XI  E>  RAR.Y 

OF   THL 

UNIVERSITY 
Of    ILLINOIS 


JATURAL  HISTORY  SURVE 

530.5 


v.10 
cop.3 


THE  FISHES  OF  THE  FRESH  WATERS  OF  PANAMA. 


BY  SETH  E.  MEEK*  AND  SAMUEL  F.  HILDEBRAND. 


PREFACE. 

The  present  report  is  based  upon  the  fresh  water  species  of  fishes 
collected  during  the  "Smithsonian  Biological  Survey  of  the  Panama 
Canal  Zone."  The  ichthyological  reconnaissance,  however,  was  made 
co-operatively  by  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  Field  Museum  of 
Natural  History  and  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Fisheries. 

With  the  exception  of  a  small  number  of  specimens  contributed  by 
Messrs.  H.  Pittier  and  E.  A.  Goldman  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture,  the  collections  were  made  by  the  authors  during  two  seasons, 
viz.;  from  January  to  May  inclusive,  1911,  and  from  January  to  March 
inclusive,  1912.  The  winter  and  early  spring  months  were  chosen 
because  they  represent  the  dry  season  in  Panama.  In  1911  the  work 
was,  however,  well  extended  into  the  rainy  season,  for  during  the 
month  of  May  it  rained  every  day  and  the  streams  became  so  high  and 
muddy  that  our  efforts  had  to  be  confined  to  collecting  marine  species. 
It  became  impossible  to  dry  the  nets  or  our  clothing,  except  by  artificial 
heat,  therefore,  on  May  22  the  work  was  abandoned  and  resumed  the 
following  January. 

We  are  greatly  indebted  to  the  Panama  Rail  Road  Company  for 
furnishing  free  transportation  to  and  from  New  York  and  for  a  free 
pass  on  the  Panama  Rail  Road.  We  are  also  deeply  indebted  to  the 
Isthmian  Canal  Commission,  and  General  George  W.  Goethals  in 
particular,  for  extending  to  us  every  convenience  and  assistance  pos- 
sible. To  the  Darien  Gold  Mining  Company  we  also  owe  our  deepest 
gratitude  for  rendering  invaluable  aid  on  our  expedition  to  the  Darien 
region.  Without  the  help  thus  received  it  would  have  been  impossible 
to  make  so  large  and  thorough  a  collection  as  the  present  one. 

Our  knowledge  of  the  fresh  water  fishes  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama 
heretofore  was  fragmentary.  It  was  based  on  small  collections  made  at 
various  times,  usually  not  by  naturalists,  but  by  tourists  and  others 
who  possessed  a  popular  interest  in  the  subject.  The  small  collections 
thus  secured  were  reported  upon  by  various  authors,  viz.;  Kner  & 
Steindachner,  Steindachner,  Gunther,  Gill,  Evermann  &  Goldsborough 

*  Deceased  July  6,  1914. 

217 


2i8    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

and  others.  The  collection  at  hand,  therefore,  is  the  first  large  and 
general  one  made  in  the  fresh  waters  of  the  Isthmus. 

The  present  survey  was  made  after  much  work  had  been  done  on  the 
Canal  and  natural  conditions  had  been  considerably  disturbed,  but  yet 
before  the  water  was  turned  into  the  Canal  and  before  the  species  from 
the  two  slopes  were  allowed  to  intermingle.  The  natural  conditions 
had  at  the  time  of  our  visits  been  most  disturbed  in  the  Rio  Grande  on 
the  Pacific  slope  of  the  Canal  Zone.  This  stream  had  been  thoroughly 
cut  to  pieces  and  in  view  of  this  fact  it  seemed  important,  in  order  to 
obtain  a  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  fishes  of  the  Canal  Zone,  to 
extend  the  survey  to  other  Pacific  slope  streams.  In  this  connection  it 
is  an  interesting  fact  that  several  species,  namely,  Pimelodella  chagresi, 
Plecostomus  plecostomus,  Astyanax  fasciatus,  Brycon  argenteus,  Curimatus 
magdalena,  Thoracocharax  maculatus,  Priapichthys  tridentiger  and 
Microeleotris  panamensis  gen.  et  sp.  nov.,  taken  in  streams  both  east  and 
west  of  the  Rio  Grande  were  not  found  in  it,  the  presumption  being 
that  they  once  occurred  there  but  that  they  had  disappeared  on  account 
of  the  unfavorable  conditions  created  by  the  construction  of  Canal. 

Two  small  preliminary  papers  containing  the  descriptions  of  new 
species  have  already  been  published  in  the  Zoological  Series  of  Field 
Museum  of  Natural  History  (Vol.  X,  1912  and  1913,  pp.  67  and  68,  and 
pp.  77  to  91).  In  the  present  and  final  report  we  have  endeavored  to 
give  concise  descriptions  of  all  the  species  known  to  occur  in  the  fresh 
waters  of  Panama,  along  with  keys  which  we  believe  will  afford  ready 
means  of  identification.  We  have  avoided  technical  terms  as  far  as 
possible  and  hope  that  the  work  may  prove  of  use  in  the  high  schools 
of  the  Canal  Zone,  and  in  other  institutions  of  learning  in  Panama,  as 
well  as  to  ichthyologists.  A  complete  report  on  the  marine  species  is 
in  the  course  of  preparation  and  will  be  offered  later. 

The  senior  author,  on  account  of  ill  health,  was  obliged  to  with- 
draw from  the  work  during  the  course  of  its  preparation.  His  untimely 
death  occurred  on  July  6,  1914,  thus  delaying  greatly  the  completion 
of  the  report.  In  the  fall  of  1915  Prof.  C.  H.  Eigenmann  of  Indiana 
University  kindly  offered  the  use  of  his  library,  collections  from  Colom- 
bia and  other  South  American  countries,  and  his  laboratory  at  the 
University  for  the  further  study  of  this  collection.  Advantage  was 
taken  of  this  opportunity,  the  specimens  were  shipped  to  Bloomington, 
and  the  study  of  them  was  there  completed  by  the  junior  author,  who  is 
much  indebted  to  Prof.  Eigenmann  for  many  valuable  suggestions  and 
for  aid  in  classifying  difficult  forms.  Without  the  Colombian  collection 
for  comparison,  many  forms,  the  relationship  of  which  is  now  definitely 
established,  would  have  remained  unknown. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PLATES. 

VI.     (i)    Native   pulling   a  boat  across  rapids   on  the  Upper 

Chagres.     (2)  Fishing  party  on  the  Rio  Gatun. 
VII.     (i)  Natives  "poling"  a  boat  across  rapids  on  the  Upper 
Chagres.     (2)  Fishing  party  on  a  trail  through  the  jungle. 
VIII.     (i)  An  Indian  family  of  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin.     The  late 
Dr.  S.  E.  Meek  in  rear.     (2)  Scene  on  the  Upper  Chagres. 
IX.     Trachycorystes  amblops  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 
X.     Lasiancistrus  planiceps  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 
XI.     Leptoancistrus  canensis  (Meek  &  Hildebrand),  type  of  a 

new  genus. 

XII.     Loricaria  capetensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  ventral  view  of 
anterior  part  of  fish. 

XIII.  Oxyloricaria  citurensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  ventral  view. 

XIV.  Hoplosternum  punctatum  sp.  nov.,  side  view. 
XV.     Hoplosternum  punctatum  sp.  nov.,  ventral  view. 

XVI.  Cyclopium  pirrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XVII.  Apareiodon  dariensis  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

XVIII.  Pseudocheirodon  affinis  gen.  et  sp.  nov.,  male. 

XIX.  Bryconamericus  cascajalensis  sp.  nov.,  male. 

XX.  Hemibrycon  dariensis  sp.  nov. 

XXI.  Creagrutus  notropoides  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XXII.  Rceboides  guatemalensis  (Gunther). 

XXIII.  Roeboides  occidental's  sp.  nov. 

XXIV.  Brycon  petrosus  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XXV.  Brycon  argenteus  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XXVI.  Sternopygus  dariensis  sp.  nov. 

XXVII.  Sternarchus  rostratus  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XXVIII.  Cichlasoma  tuyrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XXIX.  Cichlasoma  calobrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XXX.  Cichlasoma  umbriferum  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XXXI.  Neetroplus  panamensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

XXXII.  Hemieleotris  latifasciatus  (Meek  &  Hildebrand),  type  of  a 
new  genus. 


219 


220    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

TEXT  FIGURES. 

1.  Diagram  showing  the  peculiar  scaling  at  base  of  caudal  fin  of  the 
male  of  Compsura  gorgonce  (Evermann  &  Goldsborough). 

2.  Front  teeth  of  Compsura  gorgona  (Evermann  &  Goldsborough). 
(After  Evermann  &  Goldsborough.) 

3.  Front  teeth  of  Pseudocheirodon  affinis  gen.  et  sp.  nov.     (After 
Cheirodon  insignis  [non  Steindachner]  Evermann  &  Goldsborough.) 

4.  Distal  part  of  intromittent  organ  of  Gambusia    nicaraguensis 
Gunther.     (Greatly  magnified.) 

5.  Distal  part  of  intromittent  organ  of  Gambusia  episcopi  Stein- 
dachner.    (Greatly  magnified.) 

6.  Distal  part  of  intromittent  organ  of  Priapichthys  tridentiger  (Gar- 
man).     (Greatly  magnified.) 

7.  Distal  part  of  intromittent  organ  of  Priapichthys  dariensis  (Meek 
&  Hildebrand).     (Greatly  magnified.) 

8.  Distal  part  of  intromittent  organ  of  Priapichthys  panamensis  sp. 
nov.     (Greatly  magnified.) 

9 .  Distal  part  of  intromittent  organ  of  Pasciliopsis  elongatus  (Gunther) . 
(Greatly  magnified.) 

10.     Distal  part  of  intromittent  organ  of  Mollienisia  sphenops  (Cuvier  & 
Valenciennes).     (Greatly  magnified.) 


LIST  OF  GENERA  AND  SPECIES  WHICH  APPEAR  AS  NEW  IN 
THE  PRESENT  PAPER. 

NEW  GENERA. 

PACK 

Leptoancistrus 254 

Pseudocheirodon 275 

Leptophilypnus 361 

Microeleotris 362 

Hemieleotris 364 


NEW  SPECIES. 

Ancistrus  spinosus 252 

Hoplosternum  punctatum 264 

Pseudocheirodon  affinis 275 

Gephyrocharax  intermedius 278 

Bryconamericus  cascajalensis 284 

Hemibrycon  dariensis 285 

Rceboides  occidentalis     .     .     .     .     , 293 

Sternopygus  dariensis 309 

Priapichthys  panamensis 322 

Eleotris  isthmensis 359 

Leptophilypnus  fluviatilis 361 

Microeleotris  panamensis 363 

Microeleotris  mindii 364 


221 


INTRODUCTION. 


GENERAL  TOPOGRAPHY  AND  HYDROGRAPHY  OF  PANAMA. 

In  the  region  of  the  Canal  Zone  the  Atlantic  slope  is  very  much 
broader  than  the  Pacific  slope.  Following  the  line  of  the  Panama 
Canal,  it  is  about  40  miles  from  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the  crest  of  the 
divide  and  only  10  miles  from  thence  to  the  Pacific  coast.  This,  in 
the  Canal  Zone  region,  where  the  rainfall  is  heavy,*  gives  rise  to  the 
comparatively  large  Rio  Chagres  on  the  Atlantic  slope  opposed  by 
rather  small  coastal  streams  on  the  Pacific  slope,  namely,  the  Rio  Chor- 
rera,  Rio  Grande,  Rio  Marte  Arnade,  Rio  Abaco,  Rio  Juan  Diaz  and 
other  small  streams. 

Going  eastward  or  toward  Colombia  the  Pacific  slope  becomes 
broader  and  the  Atlantic  slope  narrower.  The  increased  width  of  the 
Pacific  slope  then  gives  rise  to  the  rather  large  Rio  Bayano,  the  mouth 
of  which  is  about  30  miles  east  of  Panama  City,  and  to  the  still  larger 
Rio  Tuyra  which  empties  into  San  Miguel  Bay,  about  100  miles  south- 
east of  Panama  City.  Opposite  these  streams,  on  the  narrow  Atlantic 
slope,  there  are  only  very  small  coastal  streams. 

In  western  Panama  the  watershed  more  nearly  follows  the  median 
line  of  the  Isthmus  and  no  large  streams  occur  on  either  slope. 

There  are  then  three  river  basins  of  considerable  size  in  Panama, 
viz.;  the  Rio  Chagres  on  the  Atlantic  slope  and  the  Rio  Bayano  and  the 
Rio  Tuyra  on  the  Pacific  slope.  Collections  were  made  in  all  of  these 
streams.  The  Rio  Chagres  with  its  numerous  tributaries  was  quite 
thoroughly  explored,  and  it  is  believed  that  our  collections  contain, 
with  perhaps  very  few  exceptions,  all  the  species  occurring  there.  Our 
explorations  in  the  Rio  Bayano  and  the  Rio  Tuyra  basins  were  not  so 
thorough,  and  our  collections  from  these  rivers  are  certainly  not  ex- 
haustive, but  sufficient  to  indicate  the  nature  of  their  faunas.  Besides 
these  large  streams,  the  small  streams  opposite  the  Rio  Chagres  and 
as  far  westward  as  the  Rio  Chame  on  the  Pacific  slope  were  visited  and 
collections  made  in  each.  On  the  Atlantic  slope  only  a  few  of  the  small 
coastal  streams,  two  at  Porto  Bello  and  two  at  Toro  Point,  were  visited. 
This  then  leaves  many  small  streams  of  western  Panama  unexplored. 

"The  rainfall  in  the  Canal  Zone  region  is  heaviest  on  the  Atlantic  slope  and 
particularly  at  Porto  Bello  where  during  a  single  day  of  24  hours  as  much  as  n 
inches  of  water  are  known  to  have  fallen.  In  1909, 58.07  inches  of  rain  fell  during  the 
month  of  December  and  the  total  rainfall  for  the  year  was  237.28  inches. 

223 


224    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

That  the  faunas  of  these  small  streams  are  of  much  interest  is  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  Hoplosternum  punctatum  sp.  nov.  belonging  to  a  dis- 
tinctly South  American  family,  of  which  heretofore  no  representative 
was  known  north  of  the  Rio  Atrato  Basin  in  Colombia,  was  taken  in 
the  Rio  Marte  Arnade,  a  small  stream,  about  6  miles  east  of  Panama 
City,  and  was  not  seen  elsewhere  in  Panama.  Gephyrocharax  inter- 
medius  sp.  nov.  was  found  only  in  the  Rio  Chame;  Bryconamericus 
cascajalensis  sp.  nov.  only  in  the  Rio  Cascajal  at  Porto  Bello;  Rivulus 
brunneus  Meek  &  Hildebrand  only  in  a  small  coastal  stream  at  Toro 
Point  and  Microeleotris  panamensis  gen.  et  sp.  nov.  only  in  the  Rio 
Juan  Diaz  and  the  Rio  Chorrera.  Ancistrus  chagresi,  which  is  com- 
mon in  the  Rio  Chagres  Basin,  was  taken  on  the  Pacific  slope  only 
in  the  Rio  Chorrera. 

THE  Rio  CHAGRES  AND  ITS  FAUNA. 

The  Rio  Chagres  is  but  slightly  affected  by  tides  at  its  mouth,  as 
there  is  a  difference  of  less  than  two  feet  between  mean  high  and  mean 
low  water  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Panama.  Ascending  this  stream,  it 
is  found  to  flow  through  a  low  swampy  region  in  its  lower  course,  or  as 
far  as  Gatun.  Here  it  receives  its  largest  tributary,  the  Rio  Trinidad, 
which  is  a  sluggish  stream  winding  its  way  for  many  miles  southward 
through  a  low,  dense  jungle  where  mosquitoes  abound  in  countless 
numbers.  It  reaches  the  mountains  opposite  the  Rio  Chorrera.  In 
the  upland  regions  it  is  free  from  rapids,  but  the  current  is  swift. 

At  Gatun  the  Rio  Chagres  receives  another  tributary  of  considerable 
size,  namely,  the  Rio  Gatun,  which  assumes  an  easterly  course,  and  is  a 
clean,  clear  stream,  usually  with  sandy  or  pebbly  bottom  and  without 
rapids  or  falls  but  with  a  strong  current. 

Following  again  the  course  of  the  Rio  Chagres  from  Gatun  upward 
it  assumes  the  general  direction  of  the  present  Canal,  i.  e.,  southeast- 
ward until  Gamboa  is  reached  where  it  makes  a  rather  sharp  turn  to  the 
left  and  then  follows  an  east  by  northeast  course.  As  far  up  as  Alha- 
juela  or  about  50  miles  from  its  mouth,  following  the  winding  course  of 
the  stream,  the  current  is  swift  but  no  rapids  occur.  From  this  point 
upward  it  becomes  swifter  and  at  intervals  rapids  appear  which  can 
be  crossed  only  when  the  water  is  at  a  low  stage.  At  San  Juan,  the 
last  native  village  on  the  river,  the  stream  forks;  the  left  fork  is  known 
as  the  Rio  Pequeni  which  soon  again  divides  forming  the  Rio  Boqueron 
and  the  Rio  Pequeni.  The  fork  to  the  right,  going  up  stream,  at  the 
village  of  San  Juan  is  the  Upper  Chagres.  Following  its  course  the 
mouth  of  a  large  tributary  is  soon  reached.  This  is  the  Rio  Indio  which 
has  a  waterfall  a  short  distance  above  its  mouth;  below  it  a  large  num- 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 


PLATE  VI,   ZOOLOGY. 


NATIVE  PULLING  A  BOAT  ACROSS  RAPIDS  ON  THE  UPPER  CHAGRES. 


FISHING  PARTY  ON  THE  Rio  GATUN. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     225 

ber  of  specimens  of  Joturus  pichardi  were  obtained  with  a  discharge  of 
dynamite. 

The  regions  through  which  the  upper  courses  of  these  streams  flow 
are  entirely  uninhabited.  A  traveler  in  this  region  is  obliged  to  provide 
himself  with  provisions,  for  nothing  can  be  obtained  except  fish  and 
game.  Large  fishes  belonging  to  the  genus  Brycon  are  plentiful,  and 
there  is  doubtless  also  an  abundance  of  game,  although  no  effort  was 
made  by  us  to  obtain  it.  The  region  is  densely  wooded  and  no  head- 
way can  be  made  into  the  jungle  without  cutting  a  trail.  Large  croco- 
diles and  caimens  abound,  and  several  species  of  monkeys  may  from 
time  to  time  be  seen  leaping  from  tree  to  tree.  On  several  occasions 
numbers  of  monkeys  made  early  morning  visits  to  our  camps,  chatter- 
ing profusely  in  the  trees  overhead,  but  upon  the  first  movement  or 
sound  from  the  occupants  of  the  camp  the  chattering  ceased  and  a 
grand  rush  was  made  for  the  jungle. 

We  made  the  trip  up  these  streams  in  a  wooden  dug-out,  "poled" 
by  two  natives.  As  it  is  impossible  to  paddle  a  canoe  against  the  strong 
current  in  most  places,  the  natives  use  a  pole  with  an  iron  shoe  at  the 
base.  One  man  stands  in  the  stern  of  the  boat  to  guide  and  to  push  and 
the  other  occupies  the  bow,  walking  forward,  securing  a  hold  and  then 
running  back  as  the  boat  is  pushed  along.  Even  during  our  expedition, 
when  the  streams  were  at  a  very  low  stage  it  was  necessary  for  us  to 
land  and  walk  past  several  rapids  while  our  boatmen  by  means  of  a 
rope  pulled  the  boat  across  them.  In  coming  down  stream  and  crossing 
rapids  considerable  skill  is  required.  Our  boatmen  were  very  careful 
either  to  go  faster  than  the  current  or  slower  in  order  to  retain  control 
of  the  boat.  It  is  then  obvious  that  an  expedition  on  the  Upper  Chagres 
and  its  tributaries  should  not  be  undertaken  without  skillful  boatmen 
who  are  familiar  with  the  streams. 

The  waters  of  the  lower  Chagres  are  constantly  turbid,  but  those  of 
its  upper  tributaries  were  clear  and  cool  at  the  time  of  our  expedition. 
The  beds  of  all  of  the  upper  tributaries  are  pebbly  or  rocky.  Large 
boulders  usually  occur  at  the  rapids,  making  traveling  all  the  more 
difficult. 

The  stages  of  the  river  often  change  rapidly  owing  to  freshets  in  the 
mountains,  the  highest  water  usually  occurring  during  November  and 
December,  at  the  close  of  the  rainy  season,  and  the  lowest  water  during 
February  and  March.  The  rapidity  with  which  the  stream  at  times 
rises  may  be  seen  from  the  following  figures  obtained  from  the  records 
kept  by  the  Isthmian  Canal  Commission  at  its  hydrographic  station  at 
Alhajuela:  On  December  26, 1909,  the  river  had  an  elevation  of  96.6  feet 
at  7  :oo  A.  M.  ;  at  7  :oo  P.  M.  the  elevation  was  121  feet.  On  December  26, 


226    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

1911,  it  rose  from  an  elevation  of  101.4  feet  at  9:00  A.  M.  to  no  feet  by 
10:00  A.  M.  It  is  evident  that  at  such  times  all  boating  on  the  river  must 
cease. 

The  fish  fauna  in  the  upper  courses  of  the  Chagres  is  rather  rich  in 
quantity  but  rather  poor  in  variety.  On  the  lower  courses  of  the 
Chagres  the  larger  fishes  have  become  comparatively  rare,  owing  in 
part  at  least  to  the  illegal  use  of  dynamite,  but  the  number  of  species  is 
greater  than  in  the  uninhabited  region. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  species  obtained  by  us  in  the  Rio  Chagres 
Basin:  Family  Silurida;  Pimelodella  chagresi,  Rhamdia  wagneri:  Family 
Loricariidce;  Plecostomus  plecostomus,  Chcetostomus  fischeri,  Ancistrus 
chagresi,  Loricaria  uracantha:  Family  Characida;  Astyanax  ruberrimus, 
Bryconamericus  emperador,  Brycon  petrosus,  Brycon  chagrensis,  Gephyro- 
charax  atricaudata,  Creagrutus  notropoides,  Hyphessobrycon  panamensis, 
Pseudocheirodon  affinis  gen.  et  sp.  nov.,  Compsura  gorgonce,  Rceboides 
guatemalensis,  Piabucina  panamensis,  Hoplias  microlepis:  Family 
Gymnotida;  Hypopomus  brevirostris:  Family  Pceciliida;  Gambusia 
cascajalensis,  Gambusia  episcopi,  Gambusia  nicaraguensis ,  Mollienisia 
sphenops,  Priapichthys  tridentiger,  Rivulus  ekgans:  Family  Mugilida; 
Agonostomus  macracanthus,  Agonostomus  monticola,  Joturus  pichardi: 
Family  Cichlidce;  jEquidens  ccerukopunctatus,  Cichlasoma  maculicauda, 
Neetropolus  panamensis,  Geophagus  crassilabris:  Family  Gobiidce; 
Awaous  taiasica,  Dormitator  maculatus,  Leptophilypnus  fiuviatilis  gen. 
et  sp.  nov.,  Microeleotris  mindii  gen.  et  sp.  nov.,  Eleotris  isthmensis 
sp.  nov.,  Eleotris  pisonis,  Guavina  guavina,  Philypnus  dormitor,  and 
Sicydium  salvini. 

The  representatives  of  the  family  SiluridoB  occur  on  both  slopes  of 
Panama  and  southward  and  seem  to  be  well  established  species  that  are 
not  at  the  present  time  undergoing  any  rapid  changes  in  different 
localities. 

Of  the  family  Loricariida,  Loricaria  uracantha  was  taken  only  in  the 
Rio  Chagres*  and  does  in  fact  have  no  very  near  relatives.  Since  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama  is  the  northernmost  limit  of  the  range  of  this  family 
and  its  center  of  distribution  occurs  somewhere  in  South  America,  this 
species  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  earliest  migrants,!  which  appears 
to  have  changed  remarkably  under  the  new  environment.  Chcetostomus 
fischeri  is  really  a  Pacific  slope  fish  in  Panama,  but  it  seems  to  have 
reached  this  region  before  the  last  gap  between  the  Rio  Chagres  and 
the  Pacific  slope  streams  was  closed.  It  has  apparently  not  thrived 

*Loricaria  uracantha  is  recorded  from  the  Pacific  slope  of  Panama,  but  it  was 
not  seen  there  by  us. 

tin  our  discussion  on  distribution,  Panama  is  regarded  as  a  very  remote  center 
of  distribution.  See  Meek,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1914,  p.  134. 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 


PLATE  VII,   ZOOLOGY. 


NATIVES  "POLING"  A  BOAT  ACROSS  RAPIDS  ON  THE  UPPER  CHAGRES. 


FISHING  PARTY  ON  A  TRAIL  THROUGH  THE  JUNGLE. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     227 

well  in  the  Chagres,  as  it  is  very  rare  there,  nor  has  it  undergone  any 
changes  different  from  those  of  the  Pacific  slope.  Ancistrus  chagresi, 
by  whatever  route  it  may  have  reached  the  Rio  Chagres,  is  now  abun- 
dant there  and  may  also  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  early  migrants.  It 
was  found  on  the  Pacific  slope  only  in  the,  small  Rio  Chorrera,  the 
upper  tributaries  of  which  are  opposite  those  of  the  Rio  Trinidad.  It, 
therefore,  seems  probable  that  this  species  crossed  from  one  stream  into 
the  other  before  the  gap  between  them  became  closed.  The  other 
representative  of  this  family,  Plecostomus  plecostomus,  is  of  wide  dis- 
tribution and  occurs  on  both  slopes  of  Panama  and  southward. 

Among  the  characins  evolution  seems  to  be  rather  actively  at  work 
in  a  number  of  species.  Brycon  chagrensis,  Brycon  petrosus, 
Creagrutus  notropoides  and  Rceboides  guatemalensis  all  have  closely 
related  opposites  or  relatives  on  the  Pacific  slope,  but  the  influence  of 
the  different  environment  during  their  period  of  separation  has  brought 
forth  certain  definite  and  marked  changes.  Hyphessobrycon  panamensis 
alone  of  all  the  characins  from  the  Rio  Chagres  has  no  near  relative 
elsewhere  in  Panama.  The  genus,  however,  reappears  in  Colombia. 
The  Panama  representative  was  probably  one  of  the  early  migrants 
reaching  the  Chagres  before  the  last  passage  between  this  river  and  the 
Pacific  streams  was  closed.  If  it  actually  reached  the  Atlantic  slope 
by  that  route,  then  we  are  obliged  to  conclude  that  the  species  was 
unable  to  maintain  itself  on  the  Pacific  slope  and  while  it  became  extinct 
there  it  thrived  on  the  Atlantic.  The  rest  of  the  species  of  the  Chara- 
cidcB  known  from  the  Chagres  are  common  to  both  slopes  of  Panama. 
Of  these  Astyanax  ruberrimus  at  least  also  occurs  throughout  Colombia, 
and  Hoplias  microlepis  while  replaced  by  H.  malabaricus  in  the  Rio 
Tuyra  Basin  and  in  Colombia,  oddly  enough  again  reappears  on  the 
western  slope  of  Ecuador. 

The  single  representative  of  the  family  Gymnotidcs  is  of  wide  dis- 
tribution, and  does  not  appear  to  be  undergoing  any  rapid  changes. 

The  representatives  of  the  family  Pceciliidoe  are  common  to  both 
slopes,  with  the  single  exception  of  Gambusia  nicaraguensis  which  can 
scarcely  be  regarded  a  fresh  water  form,  as  it  seldom  occurs  above 
brackish  water. 

Of  the  family  Mugilidcs  three  species  occur  in  the  Rio  Chagres. 
Two  of  them  at  least  are  common  to  both  slopes  of  Panama  and  Central 
America  as  well  as  to  the  West  Indies. 

Of  the  family  Cichlida  there  are  two  species,  Mquidens  cceruleo- 
punctatus  and  Geophagus  crassilabris  ,that  are  of  rather  wide  distribution 
and  are  found  everywhere  in  the  streams  of  Panama.  Cichlasoma 
maculicauda  is  found  only  on  the  Atlantic  slope  of  Panama  and  north- 


228    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

ward  to  Guatemala.  Neetroplus  panamensis  is  known  only  from  the 
Rio  Chagres,  although  there  are  representatives  of  the  genus  in  Costa 
Rica  and  other  parts  of  Central  America.  The  last  two  species  may 
be  regarded  as  migrants  from  Central  America. 

The  fresh  and  brackish  water  representatives  of  the  family  Gobiidce 
alone  seem  to  have  Panama  as  a  center  of  distribution.  They  appear 
to  have  yielded  to  the  different  environment  of  the  two  slopes  and 
only  one  species,  Sicydium  salvini,  an  upland  form,  is  now  common  to 
both  slopes.  Aivaous  taiasica,  Dormitator  maculatus,  Microeleotris 
mindii  sp.  nov.,  Eleotris  pisonis  and  Philypnus  dormitor  all  have  very 
near  relatives  on  the  Pacific  slope,  differing  sufficiently  so  that 
usually  they  can  be  distinguished  quite  readily. 

THE  Rio  BAYANO  AND  ITS  FAUNA. 

The  Rio  Bayano  is  a  broad  stream  at  its  mouth  and  owing  to  the 
excessively  high  tides  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  Panama,  varying  from 
20  to  30  feet  between  high  and  low  water,  the  current  changes  twice 
daily  for  30  or  more  miles  up  stream.  Throughout  this  entire  distance 
the  river  is  broad  and  muddy,  but  the  head  of  steam  boat  navigation  is 
not  far  above  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Mamoni  which  empties  into  the 
main  stream  about  20  miles  from  the  sea.  The  lower  course  of  the 
Bayano  has  large  quiet  bays  where  the  crocodile  is  very  abundant. 
There  are  places  where  on  a  sunny  day  an  observer  may  stand  in  one 
position  and  count  a  hundred  or  more  noses  of  these  beasts  projecting 
above  the  water.  Many  marine  species  of  fishes  run  up  and  down  the 
lower  part  of  this  stream  with  the  tides. 

The  Rio  Mamoni  has  a  much  greater  fall  than  the  main  stream  and 
soon  rises  above  tide  level.  It  then  becomes,  at  least  during  the  dry 
season,  a  clear  stream  with  a  rocky  or  pebbly  bottom.  About  10  or 
15  miles  above  its  mouth  is  situated  the  town  of  Chepo  which  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  best  known  towns  of  Panama  outside  of  the  limits  of  the 
Canal  Zone.  During  the  dry  season  this  stream  is  quite  small  at  this 
village.  It  was  so  low  during  our  visit  that  we  were  obliged,  in  order 
to  reach  Chepo,  to  leave  our  dug-out  behind  and  travel  overland  the 
last  5  or  6  miles.  In  this  region  of  savanas  this  was  not  difficult.  We 
did  not  explore  the  stream  beyond  Chepo,  although  it  extends  for  many 
miles  back  into  the  mountains,  and  very  probably  supports  forms  of 
fishes  not  obtained  by  us. 

Following  again  the  course  of  the  main  stream  for  from  10  to  15 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Mamoni  another  tributary  of  considerable 
size  is  reached.  This  is  the  Rio  Calobre  which  flows  through  a  densely 
wooded  and  uninhabited  region.  The  lower  portion  of  this  stream  is 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     229 

also  subject  to  a  flow  of  water  in  opposite  directions  for  a  few  miles 
above  its  mouth.  The  water,  however,  is  fresh,  as  the  back  water 
entering  it  is  the  fresh  water  from  the  main  stream  which  is  being  held 
back  by  the  onrush  <?f  the  tide.  This  stream  too  is  rocky  above  the 
head  of  tide  and  its  fish  fauna  is  quite  rich  in  species  but  not  in 
quantity. 

Time  did  not  permit  us  to  follow  the  course  of  the  main  stream 
beyond  the  mouth  of  the  Calobre.  It  would  at  any  rate  at  the  time 
have  been  impossible  for  us  to  explore  the  upper  tributaries  of  the 
Bayano,  as  they  lie  within  the  San  Bias  region  controlled  by  the  hostile 
San  Bias  Indians,  who  do  not  permit  a  white  man  to  enter  their  terri- 
tory. These  streams  must,  therefore,  remain  unexplored  until  these 
Indians  learn  that  the  white  man  is  not  their  enemy. 

The  fish  fauna  of  the  Rio  Bayano  Basin  is  essentially  that  of  the 
Rio  Tuyra.  The  following  species  were  obtained  by  us  in  the  Rio 
Bayano  Basin:  Family  Silurida;  Pimelodella  chagresi,  Rhamdia  wagneri: 
Family  Loricariida;  Ch&tostomus  fischeri,  Ancistrus  spinosus  sp.  nov., 
Oxyloricaria  citurensis,  Oxyloricaria  panamensis:  Family  Characida; 
Astyanax  ruberrimus,  Astyanax  fasciatus,  Bryconamericus  emperador, 
Brycon  argenteus,  Brycon  str-iatulus,  Gephyrocharax  atricaudata,  Curi- 
matus  magdalence,  Hoplias  microlepis,  Luciocharax  beani,  Piabucina 
panamensis,  Pseudocheirodon  affinis  gen.  et  sp.  nov.,  Compsura  gorgonce, 
Rceboides  occidentalis  sp.  nov.,  Thoracocharax  ntaculatus:  Family  Gymno- 
tidas;  Hypopomus  brevirostris:  Family  Pceciliidas;  Gambusia  episcopi, 
Mollienisia  sphenops,  Priapichthys  dariensis,  Priapichthys  tridentiger: 
Family  Mugilida;  Agonostomus  monticola:  Family  Cichlida;  jEquidens 
cceruleopunctatus,  Cichlasoma  calobrense,  Cichlasoma  tuyrense,  Geophagus 
crassilabris:  Family  Gobiida;  Awaous  transandeanus ,  Dormitator  latifrons, 
Hemieleotris  latifasciatus,  Eleotris  pictus,  and  Philypnus  maculatus. 

The  following  species  of  more  northern  distribution  reach  their 
southernmost  limit  in  the  Rio  Bayano;  Piabucina  panamensis,  Gambusia 
episcopi,  Priapichthys  tridentiger,  Agonostomus  monticola,  Joturus 
pichardi*  and  Hemieleotris  latifasciatus.  The  following  species 
are  not  known  north  of  this  river  basin;  Chatosiomus  fischeri,  Ancistrus 
spinosus  sp.  nov.,  Loricaria  variegatusj  Oxyloricaria  citurensis,  Oxylori- 
caria panamensis,  Cichlasoma  calobrense  and  Cichlasoma  tuyrense. 
Plecostomus  plecostomus,  although  found  on  both  slopes  of  Panama  and 
northern  South  America,  is  not  recorded  from  the  Rio  Bayano,  and  was 
not  taken  in  this  river  by  us,  but  it  doubtless  occurs  there.  According 

*This  species  was  not  taken  by  us,  but  it  is  recorded  from  the  Rio  Bayano  by 
Jordan  &  Gilbert  under  the  name  Joturus  stipes. 

fThis  species  was  not  taken  here  by  us  but  the  type  is  from  the  Rio  Mamoni. 


230    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

to  our  present  knowledge  there  is  not  a  single  species  whose  habitat  is 
limited  to  this  river  basin  alone,  as  all  species  occurring  here  are  found 
also  in  streams  either  to  the  eastward  or  westward  of  it. 

THE  Rio  TUYRA  AND  ITS  FAUNA. 

This  river  like  the  Bayano  is  subject  to  the  high  tides  of  the  Pacific 
coast.  It  empties  into  San  Miguel  Bay,  and  for  many  miles  inland  it  is 
a  broad  expanse  of  water  in  which  the  current  changes  twice  daily. 
The  head  of  steam  boat  navigation  is  at  El  Real  about  75  miles  above  its 
mouth.  The  head  of  tide  is  at  Pinogana  about  15  miles  above  El  Real. 

Several  miles  below  El  Real  is  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Chucunaque, 
a  tributary  nearly  as  large  as  the  main  stream.  This  stream  lies  almost 
wholly  within  the  San  Bias  region.  Its  exploration  was  therefore  not 
undertaken. 

The  main  stream  was  followed  as  far  as  Boca  de  Cupe,  about  30 
miles  above  the  head  of  steamboat  navigation.  This  distance  was 
traveled  in  the  native  wooden  dug-out.  This  stream  has  rather  swift 
current  above  the  head  of  tide,  but  there  are  no  strong  rapids,  such  as 
occur  in  the  Rio  Chagres.  Before  reaching  Boca  de  Cupe  the  mouths  of 
three  tributaries  of  rather  large  size  are  reached,  namely  the  Rio  Aruza, 
Rio  Yape,  and  the  Rio  Capeti.  An  overland  trip  from  Boca  de  Cupe 
was  made  to  the  upper  part  of  the  Aruza,  and  the  other  two  were  fol- 
lowed only  a  short  distance  above  their  mouths.  Interesting  collections 
were  obtained  from  each.  At  the  native  village  of  Boca  de  Cupe, 
located  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Cupe,  the  main  stream  was  fished  as 
well  as  the  smaller  tributary. 

From  Boca  de  Cupe  the  Darien  Gold  Mining  Company  has  con- 
structed a  small  tramway  to  its  mines  in  the  mountains  at  Cana,  a 
distance  of  about  30  miles.  This  was  followed  and  some  of  the  small 
streams  en  route  were  fished.  At  Cana  the  small  Rio  Cana  and  the 
somewhat  larger  Rio  Setiganti  were  visited  and  rather  extensive  col- 
lections made  in  each.  An  overland  trip  of  about  10  miles  was  made 
from  Cana  to  the  Rio  Grande  another  one  of  the  upper  tributaries  of 
the  Rio  Tuyra.  These  small  mountain  streams  are  all  very  rocky  and 
collecting  is  difficult.  Most  of  the  streams  were  clear  and  cool  at  the 
time  of  our  visit,  but  the  Rio  Cana  was  very  turbid  with  a  reddish  sedi- 
ment on  its  bed.  However,  a  number  of  very  interesting  forms  not 
seen  elsewhere  were  secured  from  the  latter. 

Some  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Rio  Tuyra  and  those  of  the  Rio 
Atrato  of  the  Atlantic  slope  of  Colombia  come  very  close  together  and 
the  water  shed  between  the  two  basins  is  very  low.  We  were  informed 
by  the  employees  of  the  Darien  Gold  Mining  Company  that  the  Indians 


DEC.  28,1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    231 

of  this  region,  during  the  rainy  season  when  the  streams  are  high,  often 
drag  their  canoes  from  the  head  waters  of  one  basin  to  those  of  the  other, 
and  inasmuch  as  the  fishes  of  the  two  streams  are  much  alike  it  seems 
very  probable  that  within  comparatively  recent  times  a  gap  remained 
somewhere  along  this  water  shed. 

The  following  species  were  obtained  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin:  Family 
Siluridai;  Ageneiosus  caucanus,  Pimelodella  chagresi,  Pimelodus  clarias 
punctatus,  Rhamdia  wagneri,  Trachycorystes  amblops:  Family  Lori- 
cariid<s;  Leptoancistrus  canensis,  Lasiancistrus  planiceps,  Chatosto- 
mus  fischeri,  Ancistrus  spinosus  sp.  nov.,  Plecostomus  plecostomus, 
Loricaria  fimbriata,  Loricaria  capetensis,  Loricaria  filamentosa  latiura, 
Loricaria  variegata,  Oxyloricaria  citurensis,  Oxyloricaria  panamensis: 
Family  Pygidiida;  Pygidium  striatus:  Family  Cyclopidcs;  Cyclopium 
pirrense:  Family  Characidce;  Apareiodon  dariensis,  Astyanax  ruberrimus, 
Astyanax  fasciatus,  Bryconamericus  emperador,  Brycon  argenteus,  Brycon 
striatulus,  Gephyrocharax  atricaudata,  Creagrutus  simus,  Curimatus 
magdalencB,  Hemibrycon  dariensis  sp.  nov.,  Hoplias  malabaricus,  Lucio- 
charax  beani,  Piabucina  festce,  Phanagoniates  macrolepis,  Pseudocheirodon 
affinis  gen.  et  sp.  nov.,  Compsura  gorgona,  Rceboides  occidentalis  sp.  nov., 
Thoracocharax  maculatus:  Family  Gymnotida;  Eigenmannia  virescens, 
Hypopomus  brevirostris,  Siernarchus  rostratus,  Sternopygus  dariensis  sp. 
nov.:  Family  Pceciliidce;  Mollienisia  caucana,  Priapichikys  dariensis t 
Priapichthys  tridentiger  cana:  Family  Cichlida;  Mquidens  coeruleo- 
punctatus,  Cichlasoma  calobrense,  Cichlasoma  tuyrense,  Cichlasoma  umbri- 
ferum,  Geophagus  crassilabris:  Family  Gobiidce;  Awaous  transandeanus, 
Philypnus  maculatus. 

Among  the  family  Silurida  there  are  again  the  two  species,  Pimelo- 
della chagresi  and  Rhamdia  wagneri,  occurring  everywhere  in  Panama. 
Ageneiosus  caucanus  is  common  to  the  Rio  Tuyra  and  the  Rio  Atrato, 
and  the  other  two  species  of  this  family,  while  not  identical,  are  very 
closely  related  to  Atrato  forms,  from  which  they  are  slowly  changing 
under  the  different  environment.  The  genera  Ageneiosus,  Pimelodus 
and  Trachycorystes  all  reach  the  northern  limit  of  their  range  in  the  Rio 
Tuyra. 

Under  the  family  Loricariida,  there  is  again  the  widely  distributed 
species  Plecostomus  plecostomus,  and  Ch&tostomusfischeri,  the  latter  occur- 
ring on  both  slopes  of  Panama  and  quite  surely  also  in  Colombia.  Lori- 
caria fimbriata  and  Loricaria  filamentosa  latiura  also  occur  on  the  Atlantic 
slope  of  Colombia  and  Oxyloricaria  panamensis  occurs  on  both  slopes 
of  Colombia  and  in  Ecuador  and  reaches  its  northern  limit  in  the  Rio 
Bayano.  Ancistrus  spinosus  sp.  nov.,  Loricaria  variegata  and  Oxylori- 
caria citurensis  also  are  found  in  the  Rio  Bayano.  Leptoancistrus 


232    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

canensis,  Lasiancistrus  planiceps  and  Loricaria  capetensis ,  all 
originally  described  in  one  of  our  preliminary  papers  (1913),  remain 
peculiar  to  this  stream.  The  last  two,  however,  have  very  near  relatives 
on  the  Atlantic  slope  of  Colombia. 

The  families  Pygidiida  and  Cyclopidce  are  each  represented  by  a 
single  species;  both  are  described  as  new  in  our  preliminary  paper 
(1913).  This  in  both  instances  represents  the  northernmost  record  for 
these  families.  The  Panama  representatives  have  very  near  relatives 
in  Colombia. 

In  the  family  Characida  there  are  the  following  species  that  appear 
to  be  peculiar  to  the  Rio  Tuyra;  Apareiodon  dariensis,  Creagrutus  simus 
and  Hemibrycon  dariensis  sp.  nov.  While  distinct,  all  have  near 
relatives  in  Colombia,  and  may  therefore  be  regarded  as  among  the 
latest  migrants.  Phanagoniates  macrolepis,  Piabucina  festce  and  Hoplias 
ntalabaricus  do  not  occur  in  other  streams  of  Panama,  but  their  range 
extends  southward  into  Colombia  or  beyond.  The  rest  of  the  repre- 
sentatives of  this  family  are  found  in  other  streams  of  Panama  and 
five  of  them  occur  also  in  the  Rio  Chagres,  viz.;  Astyanax  ruberrimus, 
Bryconamericus  emperador,  Gephyrocharax  atricaudata,  Compsura  gor- 
gonce  and  Pseudocheirodon  affinis  gen.  et  sp.  nov.  Only  the  first  one 
of  these  is  known  from  south  of  the  Rio  Tuyra.  Brycon  striattilus, 
Brycon  argenteus  and  Thoracocharax  maculalus  also  appear  to  reach  the 
southern  extreme  of  their  range  in  the  Rio  Tuyra.  They,  however, 
possess  very  near  relatives  in  Colombia.  The  genus  Brycon  seems  to 
be  yielding  to  the  effects  of  different  conditions,  and  now  consists  of 
several  rather  closely  related  species. 

In  the  family  Gymnotidce,  Sternarchus  restrains  seems  to  be  com- 
mon to  the  Rio  Tuyra  and  the  Rio  Atrato.  Sternopygus  dariensis  sp. 
nov.  is  limited  to  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin.  The  other  two  species  are  of 
wide  distribution.  Eigenmannia  virescens,  however,  is  not  known 
north  of  the  Rio  Tuyra. 

The  PcBciliidcB  are  comparatively  rare  in  this  river  basin  and  the 
species  are  few.  Mollienisia  caucana  reaches  its  northern  limit  of  dis- 
tribution in  the  Rio  Tuyra;  the  variety  Priapichthys  tridentiger  cana 
seems  to  be  peculiar  to  this  stream;  and  Priapichthys  dariensis  is 
known  from  this  river  basin  and  westward  on  the  Pacific  slope  of 
Panama. 

In  the  family  Cichlida  there  is  a  single  species,  Cichlasoma  umbri- 
ferwn,  that  seems  to  be  peculiar  to  this  stream.  Cichlasoma  tuyrense 
and  Cichlasoma  calobrense  are  common  to  this  stream  and  the  Rio  Ba- 
yano.  The  other  two  species  of  this  family  are  of  rather  wide  distribu- 
tion and  occur  on  both  slopes  of  Panama  and  southward. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    233 

The  two  representatives  of  the  family  Gobiida  taken  here  by  us  are 
widely  distributed  on  the  Pacific  slope  of  tropical  America. 

GENERAL  CONCLUSIONS  WITH  RESPECT  TO  DISTRIBUTION. 

We  regard  Panama  as  a  very  remote  center  of  distribution  and 
believe  that  the  fresh  water  fishes  have  mostly  migrated  to  this  region 
within  comparatively  recent  geologic  times. 

The  fish  fauna  of  Panama  is  essentially  that  of  South  America,  and 
most  of  the  forms  seem  to  have  entered  from  that  direction.  The 
families  Loricariidce,  Pygidiidce,  Cyclopidce,  Callichihyidas,  as  well  as  several 
of  the  representatives  of  the  families  Silurida,  Characida,  Gymnotidce 
and  Cichlida  known  from  South  America  reach  their  northern  limit  of 
distribution  in  Panama.  The  extreme  likeness  of  the  fauna  of  the 
Pacific  slope  of  Panama  and  that  of  the  Atlantic  slope  of  Colombia, 
and  in  particular  the  close  similarity  of  the  fishes  of  the  Rio  Tuyra  and 
the  Rio  Atrato  strongly  indicate  that  the  last  gap  between  these  two 
streams  was  closed  within  comparatively  recent  times.  As  previously 
stated  the  watershed  between  the  upper  tributaries  of  these  streams  is 
still  very  low  and  the  natives  continue  to  drag  their  canoes  from  the 
head  waters  of  one  stream  to  those  of  the  other. 

Several  species  of  the  family  Loricariida,  as  well  as  some  of  the 
South  American  forms  of  the  families  Silurida,  Characidcs  and  Cichlida, 
have  found  their  way  into  the  Rio  Chagres.  These  seem  to  us  to  have 
reached  this  river  before  the  last  gap  between  the  Rio  Chagres  and  the 
streams  of  middle  Panama  was  closed,  rather  than  to  have  migrated 
directly  from  the  Colombian  streams.  If  this  is  the  case,  the  last  gap 
between  the  Chagres  and  one  of  the  Pacific  slope  streams  opposing  it 
must  have  been  closed  earlier  than  the  last  passage  between  the  Rio  Tuyra 
and  the  Rio  Atrato,  for  the  similarity  between  the  fishes  of  the  two  slopes 
in  the  region  of  the  Canal  Zone  is  not  nearly  so  great  as  it  is  farther  east- 
ward (Rio  Atrato  —  Rio  Tuyra).  It  then  is  very  probable  that  only 
the  earliest  migrants  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Rio  Chagres  Basin. 

The  representatives  of  the  family  Poeciliidce  may  have  entered 
Panama  from  Central  America,  as  the  majority  of  the  species  resemble 
Central  American  forms  more  than  they  do  South  American.  The 
fresh  water  representatives  of  the  family  Mugilidce  have  evidently 
migrated  to  this  region  from  the  north  and  reach  the  southern  limit 
of  their  range  in  the  Rio  Chagres  and  the  Rio  Bayano. 

The  fresh  water  species  of  the  family  Gobiida  are  more  numerous 
in  Panama  than  elsewhere.  Most  of  them  still  frequent  brackish  water 
and  it  is  probable  that  they  evolved  from  marine  shore  forms,  which 
have  worked  their  way  up  streams  and  into  fresh  water. 


234    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

FOOD  FISHES  OP  PANAMA. 

The  most  important  food  fishes  of  the  fresh  waters  of  Panama  are 
the  characins  belonging  to  the  genus  Brycon.  These  fishes  reach  a 
larger  size  than  any  of  the  other  fresh  water  species.  They  are  of  good 
flavor,  but  the  flesh  is  penetrated  by  numerous  small  bones.  This  fish 
is  used  both  in  the  fresh  and  smoked  state.  The  species  of  the  genus 
Hoplias  reach  a  rather  large  size  and  are  of  some  value  as  food  but  are 
considered  of  inferior  flavor.  The  catfish,  Rhamdia  wagneri,  is  every- 
where considered  a  good  food  fish.  In  the  Darien  region  the  Indians 
quietly  wade  around  in  the  creeks  to  seek  out  their  hiding  places  and 
take  them  with  a  spear.  A  few  of  the  Loricariidce  are  also  used  as 
food  to  a  limited  extent. 

The  fresh  water  species  of  the  family  Mugilidce  are  food  fishes  of 
some  value.  The  largest  species,  Joturus  pichardi,  occurring  only  at 
the  base  of  waterfalls,  reaches  a  length  of  about  two  feet.  It  takes 
the  hook  quite  readily  and  is  considered  the  best  game  fish  of  the 
streams  of  Panama.  The  members  of  the  family  Cichlidas,  are  used  to 
some  extent,  but  are  of  relatively  little  importance,  their  size  seldom 
exceeding  a  length  of  12  inches.  A  few  species  of  Gobi-idce,  those  of  the 
genera  Philypnus  and  Guavina,  are  sometimes  eaten,  but  are  of  little 
importance. 

There  is  little  fishing  carried  on  on  the  rivers  of  Panama,  yet  in  the 
more  thickly  populated  regions  the  larger  species  are  comparatively 
rare,  while  in  the  unsettled  regions  they  are  rather  abundant.  Little 
or  nothing  has  of  course  been  done  to  protect  the  fisheries.  The  natives 
have  learned  the  use  of  dynamite  in  killing  fishes,  and  this  distinctive 
method  probably,  to  a  large  measure,  accounts  for  the  diminished  supply 
in  the  populated  regions. 

NOTES  OF  EXPLANATION. 

The  plan  that  has  been  followed  is  to  give  the  name  of  each  species, 
the  name  of  the  original  describer,  and  a  brief  synonomy.  The  synon- 
omy  includes  all  the  names  that  have  become  synonyms,  together  with 
references  to  literature  of  local  interest,  and  often  a  reference  to  a  general 
work  is  given.  Then  follows  a  diagnostic  description;  then  a  brief 
statement  of  the  size  and  number  of  specimens  at  hand,  where  taken, 
and  what,  if  anything,  is  known  of  the  habits,  food,  etc.,  and  finally 
in  a  very  brief  statement  the  range  of  distribution  is  given. 

The  proportions  given  in  the  text  for  the  different  species  are  based 
upon  measurements  accurately  made  with  calipers  and  slide  rule. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    235 

Unless  there  were  not  enough  specimens  at  hand,  not  fewer  than  ten 
were  measured,  and  in  many  instances  where  the  measurements  were 
of  special  importance  a  much  larger  series  was  used,  selecting  as  a  rule 
as  wide  a  range  in  ske  as  possible.  The  counts  of  fin  rays,  scales,  etc., 
are  based  upon  similar  series. 

Such  an  expression  as  the  following,  occurring  at  the  beginning  of 
the  description  of  nearly  every  species,  "Head  2  to  3.5;  depth  3  to  3.8," 
signifies  that  the  length  of  the  head,  measured  from  the  end  of  the  snout 
to  the  bony  margin  of  the  opercle,  is  contained  2  to  3.5  times  and  that 
the  greatest  depth  of  the  body  is  contained  3  to  3.8  times  in  the  length 
of  the  body  from  the  end  of  the  snout  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin.  In 
giving  the  number  of  fin  rays  Arabic  numerals  are  used  to  indicate  the 
number  of  soft  rays  and  Roman  numerals  the  number  of  spines.  For 
example,  D.  IV-I,  16  signifies  that  in  this  instance  there  are  two  dorsal 
fins,  the  first  being  composed  of  four  spines  and  the  second  of  one  spine 
and  sixteen  soft  rays.  If  these  spines  and  soft  rays  were  included  in  a 
single  fin  instead  of  in  two  fins,  the  result  would  be  written  thus;  D.  V,  16. 

For  the  purpose  of  ready  identification  artificial  keys  to  the  families, 
genera  and  species  are  introduced.  In  using  them,  first  determine  which 
of  the  major  groups  the  species  is  in  and  then  take  up  the  regular  order 
of  letters  under  each  group.  If  the  characters  of  the  specimen  in  hand 
do  not  agree  with  those  given  under  the  single  letter,  look  under  the 
same  double  letters,  ignoring  all  intervening  matter. 


A  SYSTEMATIC  CATALOGUE  OF  THE  FRESH  WATER 
FISHES  OF  PANAMA. 

All  of  the  fishes  of  the  fresh  waters  of  Panama  belong  to  the  class 
Pisces  (fishes)  and  to  the  subclass  Teleostomi  (the  true  fishes),  which 
possess  a  bony  skeleton;  a  well  developed  skull;  gill-opening  a  single 
slit  on  each  side;  nostrils  at  least  two,  not  median;  fins  well  developed, 
usually  paired;  alimentary  canal  more  or  less  convoluted. 

KEY   TO   THE   FAMILIES   OF   FRESH   WATER   FISHES   OF   PANAMA. 

a.  Scales  wanting,  body  smooth  or  with  bony  plates;  one  to  6  pairs 
of  barbels  or  whiskers  more  or  less  developed  about  the  mouth 
and  nostrils. 

b.  Body  wholly  naked  (naked  in  Panama  species)  or  with  a  single 
series  of  bony  plates  along  side. 

c.  Adipose  fin  present. 

d.  Mouth  terminal  or  subterminal;  the  lips  not  reverted  and  not 
forming  a  disc.  Silurida,  p.  239. 

dd.   Mouth  inferior;  the  lips  reverted,  forming  an  oval  sucking  disc. 

Cydopidce,  p.  265. 

cc.    Adipose  fin  wanting.  Pygidiidce,  p.  266. 

bb.  Body  mostly  or  wholly  covered  with  bony  plates. 

e.  Sides  and  back  and  often  the  ventral  surface  covered  with  bony 
plates;  mouth  wholly  inferior;  the  lips  reverted,   forming  a 
sucking  disc.  Loricarnda,  p.  246. 

ee.    Sides  with  2  series  of  bony  plates;  mouth  terminal  or  subterminal; 

the  lips  not  reverted  nor  developed  into  a  sucking  disc. 

CallichihyidcB,  p.  263. 
aa.    Scales  usually  present  (present  in  all  of  the  Panama  species) ;  no 

whiskers  about  the  mouth  and  nostrils. 

f .  Fins  without  spines. 

g.  Body  compressed  or  subterete,  not  eel-shaped;  dorsal  fin  present, 
h.     Adipose  fin  usually   present    (wanting  in  Phanagoniates   and 

Hoplias);  head  naked,  usually  more  or  less  compressed;  lateral 

line  complete  or  not  (wanting  in  Piabucind).  Characid<B,p.  267. 
hh.  Adipose  fin  wanting;  head  partly  scaly,  usually  depressed,  flat 

above;  lateral  line  wanting.  Pceciliida,  p.  313. 

gg.  Body  more  or  less  eel-shaped;  dorsal  fin  wanting  or  represented 

by  a  mere  filament.  Gymnotida,  p.  306. 

237 


238    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

ff .     Fins  with  spines. 

i.      Body  elongate,  not  very  deep;  dorsal  fins  2,  separate  or  more  or 

less  united;  lateral  line  incomplete  or  wanting. 
j.      Scales  large,  dorsal  fins  well  separated;  caudal  fin  forked;  ventral 

fins  abdominal,  far  apart.  Mugilida,  p.  332. 

jj.     Scales  if  present  (present  in  all  of  the  Panama  species)  moderate 

or  small;  dorsal  fins  separate  or  united;  caudal  fin  rounded; 

ventral  fins  thoracic,  close  together  or  united  to  form  a  sucking 

disc.  Gobiidce,  p.  349. 

ii.     Body  deep,  compressed;  scales  moderate;  lateral  line  interrupted 

under  base  of  dorsal,  reappearing  lower  down  on  caudal  peduncle; 

dorsal  fin  single,  composed  of  spines  and  rays.  Cichlidce,  p.  338. 


Order  I.   Nematognathi. 

THE  CATFISHES. 

Fishes  without  scales,  the  body  smooth  or  provided  with  bony 
plates,  and  with  whiskers  about  the  mouth.  Parietals  and  supra- 
occipitals  confluent;  the  four  anterior  vertebrae  co-ossified;  no  meso- 
pterygium;  suboperculum  wanting  or  modified  into  the  uppermost 
branchiostegal. 

Family  I.   Siluridae. 

Body  naked  or  with  a  single  series  of  plates  along  middle  of  sides; 
mouth  terminal  or  subterminal;  opercle  well  developed;  gill-openings 
usually  wide;  maxillary  a  mere  vestige;  caudal  vertebrae  not  compressed; 
air-bladder  well  developed,  lying  free  in  the  abdominal  cavity;  dorsal 
fin  over  abdominal  portion  of  vertebral  column;  adipose  fin  present, 
long  or  short;  anal  fin  not  very  long,  its  origin  far  behind  that  of  dorsal. 

KEY   TO   THE   GENERA. 

a.  Eye  with  a  free  orbital  margin;  adipose  fin  longer  than  anal. 

b.  Occipital  process  failing  to  reach  dorsal  plate;  adipose  fin  much 
longer  than  head.  Rhamdia,  p.  239. 

bb.  Occipital  process  reaching  dorsal  plate;  adipose  fin  shorter  or  not 
very  much  longer  than  head. 

c.  Fontanel  not  continued  beyond  eyes;  humeral  process  spine-like. 

Pimelodus,  p.  241. 

cc.    Fontanel  continued  beyond  eyes;  humeral  process  broad,  not 

spine-like.  Pimelodella,  p.  242. 

aa.    Eye  without  a  free  orbital  margin;  adipose  fin  shorter  than  anal. 

d.  Barbels  6,  a  pair  of  maxillary  barbels  and  2  pairs  of  mandibular 
barbels;  caudal  fin  obliquely   truncate,  emarginate  or  rather 
deeply  concave.  Trachycorystes ,  p.  243. 

dd.  Maxillary  barbels  present,  very  small,  especially  in  the  female; 
no  mandibular  barbels;  caudal  fin  forked.        Ageneiosus,  p.  244. 

1.  Genus  Rhamdia  Bleeker. 

Rhamdia  Bleeker,  Verhand.  Natuurk.  Vereen.  Nederl.  Indie,  IV,  1858, 
197  (sp.);  Bleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,  101  (type 
Pimelodus  quelen  Quoy  &  Gaimard). 

239 


240    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Body  elongate;  mouth  terminal  or  with  lower  jaw  the  shorter;  jaws 
with  villiform  teeth;  no  teeth  on  vomer  or  palate;  nostrils  remote  from 
each  other;  no  nasal  barbels;  barbels  6;  occipital  process  small  or  want- 
ing, not  reaching  the  dorsal  plate;  eye  with  a  free  orbital  margin;  dorsal 
fin  with  i  slender  spine  and  5  to  8  branched  rays;  adipose  fin  long,  adnate 
to  the  back.  To  this  genus  belongs  a  large  number  of  fresh-water  cat- 
fishes,  inhabiting  streams  from  southern  Mexico  to  Peru  and  the  Rio  de 
la  Plata.  One  species  only  occurs  in  the  Panama  Canal  Zone  region. 

1.  Rhamdia  wagneri  (Gunther). 

Pimelodus  cinerascens  (non  Gunther)  Kner  &  Steindachner,  Abhandl. 

K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss.  Miinchen,  1865,  49  (Panama). 
Pimelodbs  wagneri  Gunther,   Trans.   Zool.   Soc.   London,    1868,   474 

(Atlantic  and  Pacific  rivers  of  Panama) ;   Steindachner,  Denkschr. 

K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  XLI,  1879  (Rio  Mamoni,  Chepo,  Panama). 
Rhamdia  bransfordi  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1876,  337  (Panama). 
Rhamdia  wagneri  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Occ.  Pap.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.  I, 

1890,  133  (Gorgona,  Rio  Chagres;  Rio  Obispo,  Panama;  Turbo, 

Atlantic  coast,  Cent.  America);   Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S. 

Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896,  151;    Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces, 

1907,  131  (Shirures,  Costa  Rica;  western  Ecuador). 

Head  3.6  to  4.55;  depth  5.1  to  6.55;  D.  I,  6;  A.  n  to  13. 

Body  elongate,  compressed  posteriorly;  head  depressed;  profile 
gently  elevated  anteriorly,  nearly  straight;  snout  broad,  its  length  2.25 
to  2.5  in  head;  eye  5.45  to  7.5;  interorbital  2.4  to  2.94;  mouth  broad,  its 
width  greater  than  length  of  snout;  the  upper  jaw  a  little  in  advance  of 
the  lower;  maxillary  barbels  varying  considerably  in  length,  reaching 
opposite  base  of  ventrals  to  opposite  or  past  base  of  anal;  teeth  in  the 
jaws  in  villiform  bands;  none  on  palatines  or  vomer;  head  covered  with 
skin;  occipital  process  narrow,  not  extending  to  the  small  dorsal  plate; 
fontanel  long  and  narrow,  extending  past  anterior  margin  of  eye;  dorsal 
fin  with  a  poorly  developed  spine;  origin  of  dorsal  not  quite  half  as  far 
from  tip  of  snout  as  from  base  of  caudal;  adipose  fin  notably  longer 
than  head,  its  base  2.65  to  3.3  in  body;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe 
the  larger,  rounded;  anal  fin  short,  its  origin  somewhat  nearer  base  of 
caudal  than  base  of  pectorals;  ventral  fins  inserted  behind  vertical  from 
base  of  last  dorsal  ray,  failing  to  reach  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  rather 
short,  the  spine  rather  weak,  and  without  barbs  except  in  young,  its 
length  1.8  to  2.45  in  head. 

Color  bluish  black  above,  pale  below;  sides  yellowish  green  and  with 
a  single  dark  band  in  young.  Dorsal  fin  with  a  dark  band  across  middle 
and  a  lighter  one  below  it. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    241 

Numerous  specimens  of  this  species  were  collected.  It  is  found  in 
all  the  streams  of  Panama.  The  specimens  at  hand  vary  in  length  from 
45  to  350  mm.  It  is  considered  a  food  fish  of  some  importance.  In  the 
Rio  Tuyra  Basin  the  Indians  quietly  wade  around  in  the  streams  and 
seek  their  hiding  places  and  take  them  with  a  spear.  In  this  they  are 
so  adept  that  they  seldom  miss  their  aim. 

Habitat:  Streams  of  both  slopes  of  Central  America,  from  Costa 
Rica  southward  to  Ecuador. 


2.  Genus  Pimelodus  Lacepede. 

Pimelodus  Lacepede,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  V,  1803  (species  of  several 
genera);  Cuvier,  R£gne  Animal,  II,  1817,  203  (species  having  a 
single  band  of  teeth  in  upper  jaw);  Lutken,  Dan.  Vidensk-Selsk., 
Skr.,  (5)  XII,  1875, 1(>3  (tyP6  Pimelodus  maculatusLac6pkde=Silu- 
rus  clorios  Bloch). 
Pseudariodes  Bleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,  99  (type 

Pseudariodes  clarias  Bloch). 

Pseudorhamdia  Bleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,   101   (type 
Pseudorhamdia  ntaculata  Lace"pede=S*7wMs  clarias  Bloch). 
Body  elongate,  head  covered  with  thin  skin,  granulose;  occipital 
process  reaching  dorsal  plate;  humeral  process  broad;  fontanel  not 
continued  beyond  anterior  margin  of  eyes;  eye  with  a  free  orbital  mar- 
gin; one  pair  of  maxillary  barbels;  2  pairs  of  mandibular  barbels;  caudal 
fin  forked. 

2.  Pimelodus  clarias  punctatus  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 
Megalonema  punctatum  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.    Nat.  Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  77  (Rio  Tuyra,  Marrigante,  Panama). 
Megalonema  robustum  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field   Mus.  Nat.   Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  78  (Rio  Tuyra,  Marrigante,  Panama). 

Head  3.9  to  4.1;  depth  4.4  to  5.25;  D.  I,  6;  A.  n  to  13. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  dorsal  region  elevated;  head  not  much 
wider  than  deep,  its  width  1.34  to  1.6  in  its  length;  snout  not  very  broad, 
its  length  2.04  to  2.25  in  head;  eye  4.7  to  6;  interorbital  2.94  to  4;  width 
of  mouth  a  little  less  than  length  of  snout;  maxillary  barbels  reaching 
opposite  anal  or  to  base  of  caudal;  occipital  process  rather  wide,  not 
fully  united  with  the  dorsal  plate,  its  greatest  width  greater  than  eye, 
except  in  young  of  less  than  150  mm.  in  length;  teeth  in  villiform  bands, 
none  on  palatines  or  vomer;  gill-membranes  free  from  the  isthmus; 
humeral  process  rather  narrow,  pointed  slightly  upward;  dorsal  spine 
equal  to  or  a  little  longer  than  head,  a  rudimentary  spine  at  its  base; 


242    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

origin  of  dorsal  slightly  nearer  adipose  than  tip  of  snout;  adipose  fin 
shorter  than  head,  4.8  to  5.5  in  length  of  body;  caudal  fin  deeply  forked, 
the  upper  lobe  the  longer;  anal  fin  without  distinct  spine,  its  origin 
behind  origin  of  adipose;  ventral  fins  inserted  under  posterior  rays  of 
dorsal;  pectoral  spine  with  hooks  on  both  sides  in  young,  becoming 
smootiier  with  age,  i  to  1.23  in  head. 

Color  bluish  above,  pale  silvery  below.  Young  with  numerous  round 
specks  or  spots  on  head  and  side,  which  become  fewer  with  age  and  wholly 
disappear  in  specimens  of  200  mm.  and  more  in  length.  Fins  unmarked. 

We  have  8  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  in  length  from  142  to 
300  mm.  All  are  from  the  lower  Rio  Tuyra,  some  of  them  from  below 
the  head  of  tide  water. 

This  fish  is  probably  not  distinct  from  P.  clarias  (Bloch)  of  which 
there  are  at  hand  numerous  specimens  from  the  Rio  Atrato  and  Rio 
Magdalena.  However,  we  do  not  find  the  dark  spots,  so  characteristic 
in  the  young  from  the  Rio  Tuyra,  present  in  the  specimens  from  the 
more  southern  streams.  The  occipital  process  apparently  is  also  slightly 
wider  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  specimens.  Our  specimens  may,  therefore, 
be  considered  a  variety  of  P.  clarias  with  dark  spots  present  in  all  except 
the  adults. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 

3.  Genus  Pimelodella  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann. 

Pseudorhamdia  (non  Bleeker)  Steindachner,  Sitzb.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien, 
LXXIV,  1876,  604  (type  Pimelodus  lateristriga  Muller  &  Troschel). 

Pimelodella  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  2nd.  Ser.,  I, 
1888,  131  (type  Pimelodus  cristatus  Muller  &  Troschel). 
This  genus  differs  from  Pimelodus  in  having  a  narrower  and  more 

spine-like  humeral  process  and  the  fontanel  extends  farther  back, 

notably  past  anterior  margin  of  eye.     Only  a  single  species  is  found  in 

the  waters  of  Panama. 

3.  Pimelodella  chagresi  (Steindachner). 

Pimelodus  (Pseudorhamdia)  chagresi  Steindachner,  Sitzb.  K.  Ak.  Wiss. 

Wien,  LXXIV,  1876,  584  (Rio  Chagres  and  its  tributaries). 
Pimelodella  chagresi  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  2nd. 

Sen,  I,  1888, 134  (RioObispo),  and  Occ.  Pap.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  I,  1890, 

1 60  (Rio  Chagres  and  its  tributaries). 

Head  3.8  to  4.7;  depth  5.2  to  6.2;  D.  I,  6;  A.  n  or  12. 

Body  elongate,  compressed,  the  dorsal  region  moderately  elevated; 
head  rather  narrow;  snout  tapering,  2.3  to  2.7  in  head;  eye  3.85  to  4.6; 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    243 

interorbital  4.13  to  4.73;  mouth  narrower  than  length  of  snout;  upper 
jaw  a  little  in  advance  of  the  lower;  maxillary  barbels  usually  reaching 
to  or  somewhat  past  origin  of  anal;  teeth  in  villiform  bands,  none  on 
vomer  or  palatines;  occipital  process  long  and  narrow,  reaching  dorsal 
plate;  fontanel  long  and  narrow,  reaching  backward  to  or  a  little  beyond 
posterior  margin  of  pupil;  origin  of  dorsal  about  midway  between  tip  of 
snout  and  origin  of  adipose;  dorsal  spine  a  little  longer  than  eye  and 
snout;  adipose  fin  varying  in  length,  but  always  longer  than  head,  3  to 
3.95  in  length  of  body;  caudal  fin  deeply  forked,  the  upper  lobe  much  the 
longer,  notably  longer  than  head;  anal  fin  without  a  spine,  its  origin  a 
little  behind  origin  of  adipose;  ventral  fins  failing  to  reach  origin  of  anal, 
inserted  just  behind  vertical  from  base  of  last  dorsal  ray;  pectoral  fins 
rather  short,  the  spine  without  hooks  on  its  distal  third  or  fourth,  but 
with  strong  hooks  on  basal  portion,  its  length  1.2  to  1.63  in  head. 

Color  greenish,  with  a  jet  black  lateral  band  and  another  pair  of 
bands  on  each  side  of  median  line  of  back,  extending  from  nape  to  upper 
surface  of  caudal  peduncle.  Fins  unmarked. 

This  species  is  represented  by  numerous  specimens,  ranging  in  length 
from  40  to  142  mm.  Common  on  both  slopes  of  Panama. 

This  species  can  inflict  most  painful  wounds  with  its  fin  spines,  which 
bear  poison  glands  at  the  base. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama. 

4.  Genus  Trachycorystes  Bleeker. 

Trachycorystes  Bleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,  88  (type 

Trachycorystes  typus  Bleeker = Auchenipterus  trachycorystes  Cuvier 

&  Valenciennes). 
Parauchenipterus  Bleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,  88  (type 

Parauchenipterus  galeatus  Linnaeus). 

Body  elongate  or  robust,  covered  with  naked  skin;  occipital  firmly 
joined  to  dorsal  plate;  lower  jaw  usually  projecting;  mandibular  barbels 
in  2  pairs,  one  pair  of  maxillary  barbels;  teeth  in  villiform  bands,  none 
on  vomer  or  palatines;  eye  small,  lateral,  covered  with  skin;  dorsal  with 
a  spine  and  from  4  to  6  rays;  adipose  fin  shorter  than  anal;  caudal  fin 
obliquely  truncate,  emarginate  or  rather  deeply  concave,  the  lobes  round 
or  pointed;  outer  margin  of  pectoral  spine  serrate. 

4.  Trachycorystes  amblops  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

Felichthys  amblops  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.    Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  77  (Rio  Tuyra,  Marrigante,  Panama). 

Head  3.7  to  4.35;  depth  3.85  to  5.25;  D.  I,  5;  A.  17  to  20. 


344    FIELD  MUSEUM  OP  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Body  rather  robust;  profile  from  snout  to  dorsal  straight  and  gently 
elevated  in  female,  concave  in  adult  males;  head  depressed,  its  width 
i  to  1.8  in  its  length;  posterior  part  of  body  rather  strongly  compressed; 
snout  short,  broad,  about  equal  to  diameter  of  eye;  eye  4.4  to  6.65  in 
head;  interorbital  1.53  to  1.63;  mouth  broad;  a  pair  of  maxillary  barbels, 
with  a  bone  extending  to  anterior  margin  of  eye  in  female,  almost  or 
quite  to  gill-opening  in  male;  chin  with  2  pairs  of  barbels;  teeth  in  the 
jaws  in  bands;  gill-opening  small;  dorsal  plate  rather  broad;  humeral 
process  narrow,  pointed  slightly  upward;  dorsal  spine  in  female  some- 
what shorter  than  head,  notably  longer  than  head  in  the  male,  with 
barbels  on  its  anterior  margin,  at  least  in  young  and  in  males;  origin  of 
dorsal  more  than  half  as  far  from  tip  of  snout  as  from  tip  of  adipose; 
adipose  fin  over  posterior  part  of  anal;  caudal  fin  forked,  both  lobes 
pointed,  equal  to  or  longer  than  head;  anal  fin  rather  low,  with  heavy 
membrane  on  its  base,  length  of  its  base  shorter  than  width  of  head; 
ventral  fins  reaching  origin  of  anal;  dorsal  fin  not  nearly  reaching  base 
of  ventrals,  the  spine  usually  about  equal  to  length  of  head. 

Color  dark  above,  pale  below;  sides  variously  spotted  or  marked  with 
black.  Usually  with  a  dark  spot  or  elongate  blotch  on  middle  of  side 
below  dorsal;  some  specimens  with  roundish  black  spots  on  sides  of  head 
and  caudal  peduncle.  Fins  unmarked.  Our  largest  specimen  much 
darker  than  the  others. 

There  are  8  specimens  in  the  present  collection,  ranging  in  length 
from  87  to  192  mm.  All  are  from  the  lower  Rio  Tuyra.  One  specimen 
is  from  several  miles  above  and  the  others  from  several  miles  below  the 
head  of  the  tide. 

This  species  is  very  closely  related  to  T.  fisheri  Eigenmann,  from 
which  it  differs  mainly  in  the  shape  of  the  caudal,  which  has  a  much 
more  concave  margin,  and  longer  and  more  pointed  lobes.  It  also 
differs  from  the  latter  in  the  more  posterior  position  of  the  dorsal  and 
in  the  shorter  anal. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 


5.  Genus  Ageneiosus  Lac6p£de. 

Ageneiosus  Lace"pede,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  V,  1805,  132  (type  Ageneiosus 

armatus  Lace"pede). 
Pseudageneiosus  Bleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,  108  (type 

Ageneiosus  brevifilis  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes). 

Body  elongate;  snout  much  longer  than  eye,  with  maxillary  barbels 
only;  eyes  lateral;  the  orbit  without  a  free  margin;  occipital  process 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     245 

firmly  joined  to  the  dorsal  plate;  humeral  process  wanting;  gill-mem- 
branes joined  to  the  isthmus;  dorsal  fin  with  a  rather  weak  spine  and  6 
or  7  rays,  its  origin  in  advance  of  ventrals;  adipose  fin  very  short;  anal 
fin  long. 

5.  Ageneiosus  caucanus  Steindachner. 

Ageneiosus   caucanus  Steindachner,    Denkschr.  K.  Ak.    Wiss.  Wien, 

XLI,  1880,  61,  PI.  VI,  figs,   i   &   2    (Rio  Cauca);  Eigenmann  & 

Eigenmann,  Occ.  Pap.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  I,  1890,  306. 

Head  3.5  to  3.8;  depth  6.1  to  7.45;  D.  I,  6;  A.  32  to  40. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  profile  from  snout  to  dorsal  deeply  con- 
cave in  large  males,  only  slightly  concave  in  females;  head  low;  snout 
very  broad,  much  depressed,  its  length  1.77  to  2  in  head;  eye  small, 
lateral,  covered  by  a  membrane,  5  to  10  in  head;  interorbital  width  1.88 
to  2.46;  mouth  wide,  its  width  greater  than  length  of  snout;  a  pair  of 
maxillary  barbels  present,  very  small  in  the  female;  with  a  stiff  bone, 
extending  to  or  beyond  angle  of  mouth  in  the  male;  teeth  in  villiform 
bands,  the  one  in  upper  jaw  about  as  wide  as  eye,  none  on  vomer  or 
palatines;  upper  surface  of  head  with  a  few  rather  prominent  ridges  and 
striations,  covered  with  thin  skin;  a  long  narrow  frontal  fontanel;  dorsal 
spine  in  the  female  rather  weak  and  shorter  than  snout,  much  longer  in 
the  male,  and  with  strongly  developed  barbs  on  its  anterior  side;  origin 
of  dorsal  not  much  behind  base  of  pectorals,  a  little  more  than  half  as 
far  from  tip  of  snout  as  from  tip  of  adipose;  adipose  fin  small,  its  base 
not  longer  than  eye,  over  posterior  fifth  of  anal;  caudal  fin  forked,  the 
lobes  of  about  equal  length;  anal  fin  long,  its  base  equal  to  or  longer  than 
head,  the  spine  much  more  strongly  developed  in  the  male  than  in  the 
female;  ventral  fins  usually  not  quite  reaching  origin  of  anal;  pectoral 
fins  failing  to  reach  ventrals,  the  spine  1.93  to  2.25  in  head. 

Color  yellowish  creamy.  The  back  in  some  specimens  uniform 
bluish  black.  In  others  this  color  is  broken  up  into  stripes,  or  blotches. 
Sides  with  dark  spots  varying  notably  in  size  among  the  individuals. 
There  is  usually  a  series  of  spots  forming  a  row  from  just  above  angle  of 
gill-opening  backward.  Dorsal  fin  usually  with  dark  spots.  Caudal 
fin  with  a  dark  longitudinal  bar  on  its  upper  lobe  and  a  single  blotch  on 
the  lower  lobe.  In  very  large  examples  both  lobes  bear  several  dark 
blotches,  but  no  definite  bar.  Anal  and  ventrals  unmarked;  pectorals 
with  or  without  a  few  dark  blotches. 

There  are  45  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  Panama  collection. 
They  range  from  130  to  460  mm.  in  length.  All  are  from  the  lower  Rio 
Tuyra,  some  of  them  from  below  the  head  of  tide  water  and  others 
from  as  far  up  as  Boca  de  Cupe. 


246    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOSLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

We  have  at  hand  for  comparison  a  few  large  male  specimens  from  the 
Rio  San  Juan,  Colombia.  With  these  our  specimens  seem  to  agree  in 
all  characters  of  specific  importance. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  Basin,  Panama,  and  south  to  Ecuador. 


Family  II.  Loricariidae. 

Sides  and  back  and  sometimes  the  lower  surface  covered  with  bony 
plates,  these  often  provided  with  teeth-like  spines;  mouth  wholly  infe- 
rior, provided  with  reflected,  disk-like  lips;  premaxillaries  not  pro- 
tractile; maxillary  bone  thin,  bearing  a  barbel  which  is  partly  united 
with  the  oval  disk;  no  mental  or  nasal  barbels;  teeth  if  present  hooked 
and  in  a  single  series;  no  teeth  on  palatines;  no  frontal  or  occipital 
fontanel;  nostrils  close  together;  gill-membranes  broadly  joined  to  the 
isthmus;  dorsal  fin  present,  situated  on  the  abdominal  portion  of  the 
spinal  column  and  not  connected  with  the  occipital  by  processes; 
adipose  fin,  if  present,  composed  of  a  spine  and  a  membrane;  anal  fin 
usually  present,  short;  alimentary  canal  very  long,  coiled. 

MEASUREMENTS. 

In  the  present  work  the  length  of  head  in  this  family  is  measured 
to  the  margin  of  the  temporal  plates  which  usually  extend  to  above 
base  of  pectorals;  the  total  length  of  body  is  measured  to  tip  of  longest 
ray  of  caudal,  exclusive  of  filament,  if  present;  the  standard  length  as 
usual  is  measured  to  base  of  caudal  fin;  by  the  mandibular  ramii  are 
meant  the  two  bones  bearing  teeth,  forming  the  posterior  border  of  the 
mouth  and  corresponding  to  the  lower  jaw  in  other  fishes. 

KEY   TO   THE   GENERA. 

a.  Body  rather  short,  robust;  caudal  peduncle  short,  compressed; 
adipose  fin  usually  present. 

b.  Adipose  and  anal  fins  present. 

c.  Scutes  on  back  and  sides  distinctly  carinate;  opercle  firmly 
attached  to  the  interopercle  and  not  independently  movable. 

Plecostomus,  p.  247 

cc.    Scutes  on  back  and  sides  without  prominent  ridges  or  carinations; 
opercle  more  of  less  freely  movable. 

d.  Margin  of  snout  naked,  with  or  without  tentacles. 

e.  Snout  without  tentacles;  mandibular  ramus  about  equal  to 
interorbital.  Chcetostomus,  p.  249. 


DEC.  28,1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    247 

ee.  Margin  of  snout  bearing  tentacles,  long  and  numerous  in  the 
male,  short  and  few  in  female;  mandibular  ramus  much  narrower 
than  interorbital.  Anctstrus,  p.  250. 

dd.  Margin  of  snout  with  granules  and  bristles;  mandibular  ramus 
notably  shorter  than  interorbital.  Lasiancistrus,  p.  253. 

bb.  Adipose  and  anal  fins  wanting;  margin  of  snout  granular,  bear- 
ing short  bristles;  mandibular  ramus  nearly  equal  to  interorbital. 

Leptoancistrus  gen.  nov.,  p.  254. 

aa.  Body  long  and  slender;  caudal  peduncle  very  long,  strongly 
depressed;  adipose  fin  wanting. 

f.  Eye  with  a  distinct  orbital  notch;  teeth  usually  bifid,  and  in 
small  or  moderate  numbers.  Loricaria,  p.  255. 

ff.     Eye  without  an  orbital  notch;  teeth  setiform,  numerous. 

Oxyloricaria,  p.  261. 

6.  Genus  Plecostomus  Gronow. 

Plecostomus  Gronow,  Mus.  Ichth.,  I,  1754,  24  (sp.);  Gronow,  Zooph. 
Gronov.,  1763,  127;  Sleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.  I,  1863,  77 
(type  Pkcostomus  brasiliensis  Bleeker=Lon'can'a  plecostomus  Lin- 
naeus). 

Hypostomus  Lac6p£de,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  V,  1803, 144  (type  Hypostomus 
guacari  Lace"p6de). 

Body  elongate;  back  and  sides  completely  covered  with  carinate 
bony  scutes;  first  scute  of  lower  lateral  series  separating  the  second  scute 
entirely  from  the  temporal  plate;  lower  surface  of  head  and  abdomen 
naked  or  covered  with  small  granular  scales;  snout  granular;  opercle 
with  or  without  marginal  bristles,  firmly  attached  to  the  interopercle 
and  not  capable  of  independent  movement;  premaxillaries  and  dentaries 
of  about  equal  length,  each  with  slender  bifid  teeth;  adipose  fin  present; 
caudal  fin  emarginate.  A  large  genus  of  which  but  one  species  is  repre- 
sented in  the  rivers  of  Panama. 

6.  Plecostomus  plecostomus  (Linnaeus). 

Loricaria   plecostomus    Linnaeus,    Syst.    Nat.,    Ed.    12,    I,    1766,  508 

(America). 
Hypostomus    guacari    Lace*pede,    Hist.    Nat.    Poiss.,    V,    1803,    145 

(America). 

Loricaria  flava  Shaw,  Gen.  Zool.,  V,  1805,  38,  PI.  101. 
Hypostomus  plecostomus  Schomburgk,  Fishes  Brit.  Guiana,  I,  1841,  139 

(Rio  Branco). 
Hypostomus  robinii  Gill,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  VI,  1858,  46 

(Trinidad). 


248    FIELD  MUSEUM  OP  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Plecostomus   brasiliensis   Bleeker,    "Silures    de   Suriname,"    1864,    7 

(Surinam). 
Plecostomus  plecostomus  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci., 

2nd  Ser.,  I,  1888,  169. 
Plecostomus  seminudus  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci., 

2nd  Ser.,  I,  1888,  169  (Brazil). 
Plecostomus  boulengeri  Eigenmann  &  Kennedy,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci. 

Phila.,  1903,  502  (Paraguay). 

Head  3  to  3.44;  depth  4.4  to  5.3;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  4;  lateral  scutes  25  to 
28. 

Body  anteriorly  depressed,  wider  than  deep;  caudal  peduncle  poste- 
riorly compressed;  dorsal  profile  anteriorly  convex;  ventral  surface 
straight,  flat;  head  low  and  wide;  snout  broad,  its  margin  granulate 
except  a  small  triangular  area  at  tip,  1.6  to  1.75  in  head;  eye  5.25  to  10; 
interorbital  2.2  to  2.9;  mouth  wholly  inferior;  the  lips  broad,  expanded, 
forming  a  sucking  disc;  a  single  short  barbel  at  angle  of  mouth;  teeth 
placed  on  the  ramii  of  the  jaws,  slender,  bifid,  curved  inward  near  tip; 
the  ramus  of  lower  jaw  2  to  3.35  in  interorbital;  occipital  and  temporal 
plates  each  with  a  median  ridge,  the  former  bordered  posteriorly  by 
only  a  single  scute;  scutes  on  upper  surface  of  body  carinate,  spinulose; 
3  scutes  in  advance  of  dorsal;  6  or  7  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  13  to 
15  from  anal  to  base  of  caudal;  ventral  surface  in  advance  of  vent 
mostly  covered  with  small  granular  scales;  dorsal  fin  inserted  in 
advance  of  anal,  nearer  tip  of  snout  than  adipose  fin,  its  base  a  little 
shorter  than  head,  its  spine  usually  about  length  of  head,  2.9  to  3.75  in 
length;  adipose  fin  well  developed,  situated  somewhat  nearer  base  of 
caudal  than  base  of  last  ray  of  dorsal;  caudal  fin  emarginate,  the  lobes 
produced,  the  lower  one  usually  the  longer;  anal  fin  small,  its  origin  a 
little  behind  base  of  last  ray  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  rather  large,  reaching 
well  past  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  long,  reaching  far  beyond  base  of 
ventrals,  the  spine  much  enlarged  in  adults,  bearing  recurved  spinules. 

Color  above  dark  green;  head  and  ventral  surface  with  green  spots, 
these  varying  notably  in  size  among  individuals;  fins  usually  bluish 
green,  with  large  spots  of  pale  green,  those  on  lower  fins  arranged  so  as 
to  form  more  or  less  distinct  bars. 

This  species  is  represented  by  150  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from 
40  to  400  mm.  It  was  found  fairly  common  on  both  slopes  of  Panama, 
except  in  the  Rio  Bayano  Basin  where  no  specimens  were  obtained. 

This  fish  lives  in  rocky  streams  and  is  difficult  to  catch  with  a  seine. 
Most  of  our  specimens  were  secured  by  the  use  of  a  set  net,  in  which 
they  readily  become  entangled. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama,  south  to  Uruguay. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    249 

7.  Genus  Chaetostomus  Tschudi. 

Chcetostomus  Tschudi,  Fauna  Peruana,   Pise.,  XV,   1840,  489   (type 

Chcetostomus  loborhynchus  Tschudi). 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  depressed,  wider  than  deep,  ventral  surface 
flat;  head  low,  broad;  snout  obtuse,  with  a  naked  margin  and  without 
spines  or  tentacles;  plates  on  head  rather  smooth,  without  ridges  or 
carinations;  back  and  sides  covered  with  spinulate  but  not  carinate 
scutes;  lower  surface  of  head  and  abdomen  naked;  mandibular  ramus 
nearly  equal  to  interorbital  width.  Adipose  fin  present.  This  genus  is 
represented  by  a  single  species  in  Panama. 

7.  Chaetostomus  fischeri  Steindachner. 

Chatostomus  fischeri   Steindachner,    Denkschr.   K.  Ak.  Wiss.   Wien, 
XLI,   1879,  162,   PI.  IV  (Rio  Mamoni,  near  Chepo);  Jordan  & 
Evermann,  Bull.   U.  S.   Nat.    Mus.,   XLVII,    1896,    16;    Regan, 
Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  XVII,  Pt.  Ill,  1904,  248. 
Head  3  to  3.25;  depth  5.15  to  6;  D.  I,  8;  A.  1, 5;  lateral  scutes  24  or  25. 
Body  anteriorly  depressed;  caudal  peduncle  posteriorly  compressed; 
dorsal  profile  convex;  ventral  surface  straight  and  flat;  head  low  and 
wide,  its  upper  surface  spinulate,  but  without  ridges  or  carinations; 
snout  obtuse,  its  margin  without  granules,  spines  or  tentacles,  1.5  to 
1.65  in  head;  eye  6.7  to  9.3;  interorbital  2.95  to  3.6;  mouth  wholly 
inferior,  broad;  the  lips  expanded,  papilose,  forming  a  sucking  disc, 
the  lower  lip  with  small  lobes  along  its  posterior  margin  and  a  small 
barbel  on  its  lateral  margin  near  angle  of  mouth;  teeth  situated  on  the 
ramii  of  the  jaws,  small,  numerous,  slender,  bifid  and  curved  inward 
near  the  tips,  the  ramus  of  lower  jaw  i  to  1.3  in  interorbital;  interopercle 
with  i  or  2  short  spines;  back  and  sides  completely  covered  with  spinu- 
late but  not  carinate  scutes,  6  scutes  between  dorsal  and  adipose,  10  or 
ii  from  anal  to  base  of  caudal;  lower  surface  of  head  and  abdomen  com- 
pletely naked;  dorsal  fin  inserted  a  little  in  advance  of  base  of  ventrals, 
somewhat  nearer  tip  of  snout  than  adipose  fin,  its  base  equal  to  distance 
from  the  base  of  its  last  ray  to  tip  of  adipose,  its  spine  1.15  to  1.45  in 
head;  adipose  fin  well  developed,  inserted  slightly  nearer  base  of  upper 
ray  of  caudal  than  base  of  last  ray  of  dorsal;  caudal  fin  emarginate,  the 
lower  rays  the  longest;  anal  fin  small,  its  origin  a  little  behind  last  ray 
of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  reaching  past  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fin  large, 
reaching  beyond  middle  of  ventrals;  the  spines  of  all  the  fins  with 
spinules. 

Color  uniform  black  above;  abdomen  white.     Tips  of  dorsal  and 
caudal  reddish  in  life. 


250    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Of  this  species  62  specimens,  ranging  from  30  to  260  mm.  in  length, 
were  preserved.  It  is  common  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin,  but  only  a  few 
specimens  were  obtained  in  the  Rio  Bayano  and  a  single  specimen  in  the 
Rio  Chagres.  The  last  was  speared  at  night  by  torch  light  by  a  native 
at  Alhajuela. 

This  species  lives  among  the  rocks,  apparently  prefering  the  rapid 
courses  of  streams.  In  clear  water  it  may  often  be  seen  huddled  close 
to  the  rocks  to  which  it  is  able  to  attach  itself  by  means  of  its  sucking 
mouth  and  flat  ventral  surface.  It  feeds  on  algae  and  other  plants.  Its 
alimentary  canal  is  convoluted  and  many  times  the  length  of  the  body. 
It  is  prepared  as  food  by  the  natives  of  Darien,  by  boiling  it  in  water. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama. 

8.  Genus  Ancistrus  Kner. 

Ancistrus  Kner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  VII,  1853,  272  (sp.); 

Bleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,  77  (type  Hypostomus 

cirrhosus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes). 
Thysanocara  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7,  XVII,  1906,  95 

(type  Hypostomus  cirrhosus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes). 

Body  anteriorly  broad;  caudal  peduncle  posteriorly  compressed; 
margin  of  snout  naked,  bearing  tentacles;  the  naked  margin  broad  in 
males  and  with  many  tentacles,  narrow  in  the  females  and  with  few 
short  tentacles;  preopercle  independently  movable,  bearing  spines;  the 
premaxillaries  and  dentaries  of  about  equal  length,  the  mandibular 
ramus  much  narrower  than  interorbital;  plates  on  head  and  scutes  on 
body  without  prominent  ridges  or  carinations;  adipose  fin  well  developed. 

KEY  TO  THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Fins  moderately  elevated,  the  posterior  rays  of  the  dorsal  failing 
to  reach  adipose  when  deflexed;  base  of  dorsal  scarcely  equal  to 
the  distance  from  the  base  of  the  last  ray  to  the  tip  of  the  spine  of 
the  adipose;  pectoral  fins  failing  to  reach  the  middle  of  the 
ventrals,  the  spine  notably  shorter  than  the  head;  second  scute 
behind  occipital  without  a  distinct  median  suture. 

chagresi,  p.  251. 

aa.  Fins  strongly  elevated,  the  posterior  rays  of  dorsal  reaching  past 
origin  of  adipose  when  deflexed;  base  of  dorsal  equal  to  the 
distance  from  the  base  of  the  last  ray  to  the  base  of  caudal; 
pectoral  fins  reaching  to  or  past  the  middle  of  ventrals,  the  spine 
longer  than  head;  second  scute  behind  occipital  with  an  evident 
median  suture.  spinosus  sp.  nov.,  p.  252. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    251 

8.  Ancistrus  chagresi  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann. 

Ancistrus  cirrhosus  (non  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes)  Kner  &  Steindachner, 

Abhandl.  K.  Beyer.  Ak.  Wiss.  Munchen,  X,  1864,  61  (Rio  Chagres). 
Ch&tostomus  cirrhosus  Gunther,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1866,  478 

(Rio  Chagres). 
Ancistrus  chagresi  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  2nd  Ser., 

II,  1889,  47  (Rio  Chagres),  and  Occ.  Pap.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  I,  1890, 

446. 
Xenocara  chagresi  Regan,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  XVII,  Pt.  3,  1904, 

256  (Rio  Chagres). 

Head  2.55  to  2.9;  depth  4.7  to  5.75;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  3  or  4;  lateral  scutes 
24  to  26. 

Body  anteriorly  broad,  depressed;  caudal  peduncle  posteriorly  com- 
pressed; dorsal  profile  anteriorly  gently  convex;  ventral  surface  straight 
and  flat;  head  broad,  the  interorbital  width  nearly  equal  to  depth  of 
body,  2.05  to  2.3  in  head;  snout  obtuse,  the  margin  naked;  naked  portion 
broad  in  the  males  and  narrow  in  females,  in  the  former  with  well 
developed  tentacles  on  the  margin  and  a  V-shaped  patch  above  near  tip 
of  snout;  tentacles  varying  much  in  number  and  length  among  indi- 
viduals; females  with  only  a  few  short  tentacles  along  or  a  little  below 
the  margin  of  snout;  length  of  snout  1.6  to  1.75  in  head;  eye  7  to  u; 
mouth  rather  wide;  the  lips  expanded,  with  straight  margin;  barbel  on 
lateral  margin  of  lower  lip  minute;  the  premaxillaries  quite  as  long  as  the 
dentaries;  mandibular  ramus  2.45  to  3.2  in  interorbital  width;  teeth 
slender,  bifid,  curved  inward  near  the  tips;  interopercle  with  from  9  to 
15  spines  of  various  lengths,  which  also  vary  much  among  individuals, 
longer  in  the  male  than  in  the  female;  sculpture  of  head  without  ridges 
or  carinations;  scutes  on  back  and  sides  not  carinate,  but  with  strong 
serrations  on  their  margins;  occipital  bordered  by  3  scutes;  the  second 
median  scute  without  a  distinct  median  suture;  6  or  7  scutes  between 
dorsal  and  adipose,  n  or  12  from  anal  to  base  of  caudal;  lower  surface 
of  head  and  abdomen  naked;  dorsal  fin  moderately  elevated,  the  poste- 
rior rays  when  deflexed  failing  to  reach  adipose  by  at  least  one  row  of 
scutes,  the  spine  1.2  to  1.5  in  head;  base  of  dorsal  scarcely  equal  to 
distance  from  base  of  last  ray  to  tip  of  the  spine  of  the  adipose;  adipose 
fin  well  developed;  caudal  fin  with  a  straight  oblique  or  slightly  concave 
margin,  the  lower  rays  the  longest;  anal  fin  small,  its  origin  at  vertical 
from  base  of  last  ray  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  reaching  past  origin  of  anal; 
pectoral  fins  reaching  past  base  of  ventrals,  but  failing  to  reach  the 
middle  of  these  fins,  the  spine  notably  shorter  than  head. 

Color  uniform  dark  above  or  occasionally  with  small  greenish  spots 
on  head  and  predorsal  region;  abdomen  usually  with  pale  green  spots 


252    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

which  vary  in  size,  shape  and  number  among  individuals;  fins  all  brown- 
ish green  with  pale  green  spots. 

The  Panama  collection  contains  56  specimens,  ranging  from  45  to 
255  mm.  in  length.  Fifty-four  of  these  are  from  the  Rio  Chagres  Basin. 
The  other  two  were  taken  in  the  Rio  Chorrera,  a  small  stream  on  the 
Pacific  slope  west  of  Panama  City. 

Habitat:  Rio  Chagres  and  Rio  Chorrera,  Panama. 

9.  Ancistrus  spinosus  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8942,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  135  mm.;  Rio  Calobre, 
tributary  of  the  Rio  Bayano,  Panama. 

Head  2.65  to  2.77;  depth  4.6  to  4.7;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  4;  lateral  scutes  24. 

Body  broad  anteriorly;  caudal  peduncle  posteriorly  compressed; 
head  broad;  interorbital  width  nearly  equal  to  the  depth  of  body,  1.95 
in  head;  snout  obtuse,  the  naked  portion  narrow  hi  the  female  and  with 
only  4  small  tentacles,  much  wider  in  the  male  with  a  fringe  of  tentacles 
along  the  margin  and  a  V-shaped  patch  on  the  upper  surface  at  the  tip; 
length  of  snout  1.63  to  1.7  in  head;  eye  8.75;  mouth  wide;  the  lips 
expanded;  the  lower  lip  with  a  small  barbel,  shorter  than  eye,  on  its 
lateral  margin;  the  premaxillaries  and  dentaries  equal  in  length;  man- 
dibular  ramus  3.1  to  3.6  in  interorbital  width;  teeth  slender,  bifid, 
curved  inward  near  the  tips;  interopercle  with  from  8  to  12  spines, 
curved  outward  and  forward  near  the  apices,  longer  in  the  mate  than 
in  the  female;  sculpture  of  head  without  ridges  or  carinations;  scutes  on 
back  and  sides  not  carinate,  their  margins  very  strongly  serrate,  espe- 
cially in  the  male;  occipital  posteriorly  bordered  by  3  scutes;  the  second 
median  scute  with  an  evident  median  suture;  6  scutes  between  dorsal 
and  adipose;  n  or  12  between  anal  and  base  of  caudal;  lower  surface  of 
head  and  abdomen  naked;  dorsal  fin  very  high,  the  posterior  rays  when 
deflexed  reaching  past  origin  of  adipose,  the  spine  1.15  to  1.2  in  head; 
base  of  dorsal  equal  to  distance  from  the  base  of  its  last  ray  to  base  of 
caudal;  adipose  fin  well  developed;  caudal  fin  with  a  nearly  straight 
oblique  margin,  the  lower  rays  the  longest;  anal  fin  small,  its  origin 
slightly  behind  vertical  from  base  of  last  ray  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins 
reaching  well  beyond  base  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  very  long,  reaching  to 
or  past  the  middle  of  ventral,  the  spine  a  little  longer  than  the  head. 

Color  uniform  dark  above.  The  male  plain  brownish  below;  the 
female  with  faint  pale  spots  on  abdomen;  fins  in  male  plain  brownish, 
in  female  with  faint  pale  spots. 

Apparently  a  rare  species.  There  are  at  hand  only  2  specimens,  a 
male  and  female,  respectively  130  and  135  mm.  in  length.  The  male 
was  taken  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Yape,  tributary  of  the  Rio  Tuyra; 


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DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     253 

and  the  female,  which  we  designate  as  the  type,  was  taken  in  the  Rio 
Calobre,  tributary  of  the  Rio  Bayano. 

Differing  from  A.  chagresi  principally  in  the  higher  fins.  The  male 
specimen  has  but  6  rays  in  the  dorsal,  but  this  may  be  due  to  an  injury, 
as  the  fin  apparently  was  mutilated  sometime  during  the  fish's  career. 


9.  Genus  Lasiancistrus  Regan. 

Lasiancistrus  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  XVII,  Pt.  Ill,  1904,  224 

&  237  (type  Ch&tostomus  heteracanihus  Gunther). 

Body  broad  anteriorly;  caudal  peduncle  posteriorly  compressed; 
head  without  prominent  ridges,  the  plates  not  carinate;  scutes  on  back 
and  sides  spinulate  but  not  carinate;  lower  surface  of  head  and  abdomen 
naked;  margin  of  snout  with  granules  and  bristles;  premaxillaries 
quite  as  long  as  the  dentaries;  mandibular  ramus  notably  shorter  than 
interorbital  width;  preopercle  more  or  less  freely  movable,  armed  with 
rather  strong  spines,  the  apex  of  each  spine  bent  outward  and  forward; 
D.  I,  7;  adipose  fin  well  developed. 

10.  Lasiancistrus  planiceps  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

Ancistrus  planiceps  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  79  (Rio  Tuyra,  Boca  de  Cupe,  Panama). 

Head  2.6  to  2.9;  depth  5.3  to  6.9;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  5;  lateral  scutes  24  or 

25- 

Body  broad,  low,  depressed  anteriorly;  caudal  peduncle  posteriorly 
compressed;  dorsal  profile  nearly  straight  from  eyes  to  dorsal;  ventral 
surface  anteriorly  broad  and  flat;  head  low  and  very  wide;  snout  moder- 
ately acute,  its  margin  with  granules  and  bristles,  1.6  to  1.85  in  head; 
eye  7  to  10;  interorbital  2.25  to  2.45;  mouth  of  moderate  width,  the 
lips  expanded,  forming  a  sucking  disc;  the  margin  of  lower  lip  nearly 
smooth,  with  a  very  small  barbel,  shorter  than  eye,  on  its  lateral  margin 
behind  angle  of  mouth;  teeth  small,  bifid  and  curved  inward  near  the 
tips;  premaxillaries  a  little  longer  than  the  dentaries;  the  mandibular 
ramus  3  to  4  in  interorbital  width;  interopercle  with  about  20  spines 
which  vary  greatly  in  length  among  individuals;  sculpture  of  head 
without  carinations  and  without  ridges,  except  for  a  broad,  low  ridge 
on  median  line  of  snout;  scutes  on  back  and  sides  spinulate,  the  first 
median  scute  behind  occipital  anteriorly  convex,  broadest  at  median 
line  of  back;  7  scutes  between  dorsal  and  adipose,  n  or  12  between  anal 
and  base  of  dorsal;  lower  surface  of  head  and  abdomen  completely  naked; 
dorsal  fin  high,  the  posterior  rays  when  deflexed  failing  to  reach  adipose 
by  i  or  2  rows  of  scutes,  its  spine  longer  than  snout  and  eye,  1.3  to  1.5 


254    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

in  head;  origin  of  dorsal  slightly  nearer  adipose  than  tip  of  snout; 
adipose  well  developed,  inserted  a  little  nearer  base  of  caudal  than  base 
of  last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  with  an  oblique  or  slightly  concave  margin, 
the  lower  rays  the  longest;  anal  fin  small,  its  origin  behind  last  ray  of 
dorsal;  ventral  fins  reaching  well  past  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  very 
long,  reaching  beyond  the  middle  of  ventrals,  longer  than  head. 

Color  uniform  dark  above;  ventral  surface  of  head  and  abdomen 
brownish,  with  or  without  bluish  spots.  Fins  with  dark  spots  on  the 
rays  and  pale  ones  on  the  interradial  membranes,  sometimes  forming 
wavy  bars  on  the  fins.  The  spots  most  distinct  in  our  largest  specimens. 

There  are  31  specimens  in  the  Panama  collection,  ranging  from  35  to 
235  mm.  in  length.  All  are  from  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 

We  have  for  comparison  4  specimens  (paratypes)  from  Cartago, 
Atlantic  slope  of  Colombia,  of  the  rather  closely  related  species,  L. 
caucanus  Eigenmann  (Indiana  University  Studies,  No.  16,  1912,  n). 
The  latter  differs  from  L.  planiceps  in  the  slightly  deeper  body,  lower 
dorsal  and  pectoral  fins,  in  the  shape  of  the  first  median  scute  behind 
occipital,  and  in  color. 

10.  Genus  Leptoancistrus  gen.  nov. 

Type  AcanihicHS  canensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  80. 

Body  anteriorly  low  and  broad;  snout  granular  to  its  margin,  bear- 
ing short  bristles;  head  and  body  without  prominent  ridges  or  carina- 
tions;  interopercle  freely  movable,  bearing  spines  which  cannot  be 
retracted  under  the  opercle;  premaxillaries  and  dentaries  of  about  equal 
length;  the  mandibular  ramus  nearly  equal  to  interorbital  width;  the 
first  scute  of  lower  lateral  series  separating  the  second  scute  from  the 
temporal  plate;  adipose  and  anal  fins  wanting. 

11.  Leptoancistrus  canensis  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

Acanihicus  canensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  80  (Rio  Cana,  Cana,  Panama). 

Head  2.53  to  2.83;  depth  5.5  to  6.45;  D.  I,  8;  lateral  scutes  22  or  23. 

Body  very  broad  anteriorly,  more  than  twice  as  wide  as  deep; 
caudal  peduncle  posteriorly  compressed;  head  low  and  very  broad; 
snout  broadly  semicircular,  granular  to  the  margin,  the  latter  bearing 
short  bristles,  its  length  1.45  to  1.7  in  head;  eye  very  small,  7.5  to  10; 
interorbital  3  to  3.63;  mouth  wide;  the  lips  expanded,  the  margin  of  the 
upper  following  margin  of  snout;  the  margin  of  lower  lip  fringed,  with  a 
minute  barbel  opposite  angle  of  mouth;  teeth  slender,  bifid,  curved 


08    S 


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DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.   255 

inward  near  the  tips;  premaxillaries  and  the  dentaries  of  about  equal 
width;  mandibular  ramus  about  equal  in  length  to  interorbital  width, 
3.25  to  4  in  length  of  head;  interopercle  freely  movable,  bearing  about 
8  enlarged  spines  and  several  short  ones,  the  longest  spine  usually 
reaching  lower  third  and  occasionally  to  the  middle  of  pectoral;  head 
and  snout  without  prominent  ridges  or  carinations;  scutes  on  body 
spinulose,  but  not  carinate;  ventral  surface  of  head  and  abdomen  naked, 
also  nearly  the  entire  ventral  surface  of  caudal  peduncle,  the  median  line 
posteriorly  crossed  by  a  single  scute;  occipital  bordered  by  2  scutes; 
3  median  scutes  in  advance  of  dorsal;  dorsal  fin  moderately  elevated, 
the  spine  1.65  to  2.15  in  head,  its  origin  a  little  in  advance  of  ventrals, 
nearer  tip  of  snout  than  base  of  caudal;  base  of  dorsal  about  equal  to 
length  of  snout;  adipose  fin  wanting;  caudal  peduncle  above  with  a  low 
keel;  caudal  fin  obliquely  truncate,  the  lower  rays  the  longest;  anal  fin 
wanting;  ventral  fins  moderately  developed,  equal  to  or  slightly  longer 
than  snout;  pectoral  fins  large,  reaching  base  of  anal  in  young,  and  to 
or  past  middle  of  ventrals  in  adult. 

Color  dark  gray  above;  pale  below.  Fins  with  dark  spots  on  rays, 
most  numerous  on  dorsal  and  caudal  on  which  they  form  more  or  less 
distinct  bars. 

There  are  at  hand  52  specimens  of  this  species.  They  vary  in  length 
from  25  to  75  mm.  All  are  from  small  mountain  streams  near  Cana  in 
the  upper  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 

11.  Genus  Loricaria  Linnaeus. 

Loricaria  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  Ed.  X,  1758,  307;  Bleeker,  Nederl. 
Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,  80  (type  Loricaria  dura  Linnaeus  ^Lori- 
caria cataphracta  Linnaeus). 

Body  elongate,  usually  depressed  throughout;  snout  pointed  or 
rounded;  ventral  surface  flat,  the  abdomen  wholly  or  in  part  covered 
with  bony  or  granular  plates,  or  sometimes  with  small  granules  or 
entirely  naked;  orbit  with  posterior  notch;  teeth  bifid,  not  setiform,  in 
small  or  moderate  numbers;  caudal  fin  emarginate,  one  or  both  of  the 
outer  rays  often  produced. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Ventral  surface  of  abdomen  completely  armed  with  bony  plates. 

b.  Lateral  keels  2,  becoming  united  on  the  i$th  or  i6th  scute;  pre- 
dorsal  scutes  feebly  carinate;  abdomen  with  several  series  of  small 
plates  between  the  enlarged  lateral  ones;  no  naked  area  behind 
pectoral;  maxillary  barbel  shorter  than  eye.        uracantha,  p.  256. 


256    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

bb.  Lateral  keels  3,  the  upper  one  present  on  8th  or  gth  scute,  the  other 
two  approximated  on  the  i6th  to  i8th  scute;  predorsal  scutes 
strongly  carinate;  abdomen  with  2  series  of  plates  between  the 
enlarged  lateral  series;  a  naked  area  behind  pectoral;  maxillary 
barbel  longer  than  eye.  filamentosa  latiura,  p.  257 . 

aa.   Ventral  surface  of  abdomen  partly  naked. 

c.  Lateral  keels  2;  margin  of  lower  lip  with  long  fringes;  maxillayr 
barbel  reaching  to  or  past  gill-opening;  3  or  4  teeth  on  each  side 
in  upper  jaw.  variegata,  p.  258. 

cc.  Lateral  keels  3;  lower  lip  with  short  fringes;  maxillary  barbel 
never  reaching  gill-opening;  8  to  10  teeth  on  each  side  in  upper 
jaw. 

d.  Anterior  rays  of  dorsal  reaching  past  posterior  rays  when  deflexed, 
the  longest  ray  notably  longer  than  head;  anterior  rays  of  anal 
reaching  past  posterior  rays  when  deflexed,  the  longest  ray 
longer  than  width  of  head.  capetensis,  p.  259. 

dd.  Rays  of  dorsal  reaching  equidistant  when  deflexed,  the  longest 
ray  not  quite  as  long  as  head;  rays  of  anal  reaching  equidistant 
when  deflexed,  the  longest  equal  to  width  of  head. 

fimbriata,  p.  260. 
12.  Loricaria  uracantha  Kner  &  Steindachner. 

Loricaria  uracantha  Kner  &  Steindachner,  Abhandl.  K.  Bayer.  Ak. 
Wiss.  Munchen,  X,  1866,  56,  PI.  VI,  figs.  3,  33,  3b  (New  Granada; 
Rio  Chagres);  Gunther,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1866,  393  and 
478  (Atlantic  and  Pacific  rivers  of  Panama) ;  Eigenmann  &  Eigen- 
mann,  Occ.  Pap.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  I,  1890,  370  (Atlantic  and  Pacific 
slopes  of  Panama);  Regan,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  XVII,  Pt. 
Ill,  1904,  278  (Panama). 

Loricaria  bransfordi  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1876,  338  (Panama). 
Head  4.3  to  4.9;  depth  9.5  to  14;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  6;  lateral  scutes  28  or 
29. 

Body  low,  depressed  throughout;  caudal  peduncle  much  broader 
than  deep;  head  very  low;  snout  obtuse,  its  margin  granulate,  or  with 
very  numerous  short  bristles  in  large  males,  the  length  2  to  2.15  in 
head;  a  distinct  orbital  notch;  eye  7  to  9.5  in  head;  interorbital  with  a 
ridge  over  each  eye,  3.7  to  4.6  in  head;  mouth  rather  narrow;  premaxil- 
laries  with  about  an  equal  number  of  bifid  teeth,  from  6  to  10  on  each 
side;  the  lips  large,  papillose,  the  margin  of  the  lower  lip  fringed;  the 
barbel  shorter  than  eye;  lower  surface  of  head  naked,  the  rest  of  the 
head  and  body  completely  covered  with  bony  scutes  or  plates;  2  lateral 
keels  anteriorly,  becoming  completely  united  on  the  i$th  or  i6th  scute; 
occipital  and  predorsal  scutes  carinate;  scutes  on  chest  and  abdomen 


DEC.  28,1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     257 

mostly  small,  those  between  the  ventral  fins  enlarged,  a  single  large 
plate  in  advance  of  vent,  bordered  anteriorly  by  3  enlarged  scutes;  5 
to  7  rows  of  small  plates  across  the  belly;  16  or  17  scutes  from  anal  to 
base  of  caudal;  origin  of  dorsal  over  or  slightly  behind  base  of  ventrals; 
dorsal  spine  usually  about  equal  to  width  of  head;  margin  of  caudal  fin 
concave,  the  upper  rays  the  longest;  the  upper  spine  enlarged,  bearing 
a  filament  which  is  usually  lost  in  preserved  specimens;  anal  fin  small, 
its  origin  a  little  in  advance  of  the  tips  of  the  deflexed  dorsal  rays;  ventral 
fins  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  of  about  the 
same  length  as  the  ventrals,  not  quite  reaching  the  base  of  the  latter, 
1.3  to  1.77  in  head,  with  short  bristles  in  adult  male. 

Color  brownish  above,  pale  below;  the  back  with  5  or  6  dark  cross- 
bars, the  first  one  at  nape  very  indistinct  or  wanting,  the  second  under 
base  of  dorsal.  Fins  yellowish  green,  with  dark  spots  on  the  rays. 

There  are  numerous  specimens  in  the  present  collection,  ranging  from 
50  to  185  mm.  in  length.  Although  this  species  has  been  recorded  from 
both  slopes  of  Panama,  our  extensive  collecting  produced  none  from  the 
Pacific  side.  We  are  therefore  inclined  to  doubt  the  validity  of  the 
Pacific  slope  records.  Our  specimens  are  all  from  the  Rio  Chagres  and 
its  tributaries. 

A  common  species,  inhabiting  shallow  water  with  swift  current,  on 
either  sandy  or  pebbly  bottom. 

In  the  National  Museum  we  have  examined  presumably  the  type 
of  L.  bransfordi  Gill,  which  evidently  is  an  adult  male  of  this  species. 
The  adult  male  has  a  broad  head  and  many  short  bristles  on  margin  of 
snout  and  pectoral  fins. 

Habitat:  Panama. 

13.  Loricaria  filamentosa  latiura  Eigenmann  &  Vance. 

Loricaria  filamentosa  latiura  Eigenmann  &  Vance,  in  Eigenmann,  Indiana 
Univ.  Studies,  No.  16,  1912,  13  (Boca  de  Certegai,  Colombia). 

Loricaria  tuyrensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 
Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  81  (Rio  Capeti,  Panama). 
Head  4.1  to  4.6;  depth  8.7  to  11.5;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  5;  lateral  scutes  30  or 

3i- 

Body  broad,  strongly  depressed  throughout;  caudal  peduncle  broad, 
its  width  at  last  anal  ray  3.6  to  4  in  its  length;  head  low  and  broad,  its 
width  at  gill-opening  equal  to  or  slightly  less  than  head  from  that  point 
to  tip  of  snout;  snout  rather  acute,  granular  to  its  margin,  its  length 
1.75  to  1.83  in  head;  orbital  notch  distinct;  eye  7.2  to  9  in  head;  mouth 
small;  teeth  bifid;  each  jaw  with  from  8  to  10  teeth  on  each  side;  lips 
papillose,  fringed,  barbel  longer  than  eye,  but  failing  quite  notably 


258    FIELD  MUSEUM  OP  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

to  reach  gill-opening;  temporal  and  occipital  plates  and  predorsal  scutes 
carinate;  sides  anteriorly  with  3  keels,  the  upper  one  present  on  8th  or  gth 
scute,  the  second  and  third  coming  very  close  together,  but  not  com- 
pletely united,  on  the  i6th  to  the  i8th  scute;  ventral  surface  of  head 
naked;  abdomen  completely  armed,  with  a  series  of  broad  plates  on 
each  side  and  two  narrower  median  rows;  a  naked  area  behind  base  of 
pectorals;  vent  anteriorly  bordered  by  a  single  plate,  which  in  turn  is 
anteriorly  again  bordered  by  3  or  4  smaller  plates;  16  to  18  scutes  from 
anal  to  base  of  caudal;  origin  of  dorsal  over  base  of  ventrals;  the  anterior 
rays  of  dorsal  reaching  equidistant  or  slightly  past  the  posterior  rays  when 
deflexed,  the  spine  a  little  longer  than  the  head;  caudal  fin  with  rather 
deeply  concave  margin,  the  upper  spine  produced  in  a  filament;  anal  fin 
small,  its  margin  convex,  the  anterior  rays  the  longest,  longer  than  width 
of  head;  ventral  fins  reaching  well  past  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  of 
about  the  same  length  as  the  ventrals,  reaching  well  past  the  base  of 
the  latter,  1.25  to  1.4  in  head. 

Color  dark  grayish  brown  above,  slightly  lighter  below.  The  fins 
usually  with  dark  spots  on  all  of  the  rays. 

This  species  is  represented  by  19  specimens,  ranging  from  265  to  355 
mm.  in  length. 

We  have  at  hand  the  paratypes  of  this  species  with  which  we  find 
our  specimens  to  be  identical. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  and  Rio  Atrato  basins. 

14.  Loricaria  variegata  Steindachner. 

Loricaria  variegata  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wein,  XLI, 

1879,  163,  PI.  Ill   (Rio  Mamoni,  near  Chepo,  Panama);  Eigen- 

mann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  2nd  Ser.,  II,  1889,  36; 

Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Occ.  Pap.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  1890,  382. 

Head  4.45  to  4.95;  depth  12  to  14;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  5;  lateral  scutes  32 
or  33. 

Body  much  depressed  throughout;  head  low  and  broad;  snout  rather 
acute,  granulate  to  the  margin,  its  length  1.75  to  2  in  head;  orbital 
notch  distinct;  eye  8.65  to  10.7  in  head;  interorbital  5.2  to  6;  mouth 
narrow;  upper  jaw  with  only  3  or  4  teeth  on  each  side,  lower  jaw  with 
about  6  on  each  side;  the  lips  papillose,  with  long  fringes,  the  outer 
fringe  or  barbel  of  lower  lip  reaching  to  or  past  gill-opening;  temporal 
and  occipital  plates,  and  predorsal  scutes  carinate;  sides  anteriorly  with 
2  keels,  becoming  united  on  the  i4th  or  i$th  scute;  ventral  surface  of 
head  naked;  abdomen  with  a  lateral  series  of  scutes,  bordered  by  a 
naked  area,  and  then  with  a  median  row  of  quadrate,  granular  plates 
anteriorly,  increased  to  2  or  3  rows  in  advance  of  vent,  which  is  bordered 


^  e 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    259 

anteriorly  by  2  slightly  enlarged  plates;  a  cross  row  of  small  plates 
varying  from  a  few  to  several  in  number  between  pectorals;  18  or  19 
scutes  from  anal  to  base  of  caudal;  origin  of  dorsal  over  or  slightly  in 
advance  of  ventrals,  the  anterior  rays  of  dorsal  reaching  past  tips  of  the 
posterior  rays  when  deflexed,  not  much  shorter  than  head;  caudal  fin 
truncate,  the  upper  rays  the  longest;  the  upper  spine  with  a  filament; 
anal  fin  small,  the  spine  a  little  shorter  than  greatest  width  of  head; 
ventral  fin  reaching  a  little  past  origin  of  anal,  the  spine  somewhat 
produced,  fleshy  at  tip;  pectoral  fins  of  about  the  same  length  as  the 
ventrals,  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  the  base  of  the  latter,  1.25  to  1.7 
in  head. 

Color  grayish  above,  pale  below;  upper  surface  sprinkled  with  small 
brownish  dots  and  lines;  2  or  3  series  of  dusky  spots  sometimes  present 
on  the  ventral  surface  of  caudal  peduncle;  fin  rays  with  dark  spots,  these 
most  numerous  on  pectorals  where  they  are  not  only  present  on  the 
rays  but  on  the  interradial  membranes  also. 

There  are  6  specimens,  ranging  from  235  to  265  mm.  in  length,  in  the 
present  collection.  All  are  from  the  lower  Rio  Tuyra  Basin.  Although 
the  type  of  this  species  was  taken  in  the  Rio  Mamoni,  no  specimens  were 
secured  there  by  us. 

15.  Loricaria  capetensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Loricaria  capetensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  80  (Rio  Capeti,  tributary  Rio  Tuyra,  Panama). 

Head  4.8  to  4.9;  depth  12  to  12.5;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  5;  lateral  scutes  30  or 

31- 

Body  depressed  throughout;  head  of  moderate  width;  snout  rather 
acute,  its  margin  granulate,  1.8  to  1.9  in  head;  interorbital  5.6;  mouth 
narrow;  teeth  bifid,  the  inner  cusp  much  longer  than  the  outer,  each 
jaw  with  about  8  teeth  on  each  side;  the  lips  papillose,  each  with  rather 
short  fringes  or  tentacles,  the  longest  not  nearly  reaching  gill-opening; 
temporal  and  occipital  plates  and  predorsal  scutes  striate  and  carinate; 
sides  anteriorly  with  3  keels,  the  third  or  upper  one  present  on  1 1  or  1 2 
scutes,  the  other  2  coming  very  close  together,  but  not  completely 
united  on  the  igth  to  22nd  scute;  ventral  surface  of  head  naked;  abdomen 
with  a  lateral  row  of  plates,  bordered  on  each  side  by  a  naked  area,  the 
median  line  with  2  or  3  rows  of  small  granular  plates,  enlarged  between 
the  ventrals;  a  single  enlarged  plate  in  advance  of  vent;  17  or  18  scutes 
from  anal  to  base  of  caudal;  origin  of  dorsal  slightly  behind  base  of 
ventrals;  the  anterior  rays  reaching  past  the  posterior  when  the  fin  is 
deflexed,  the  longest  ray  notably  longer  than  head;  caudal  fin  truncate, 
the  upper  spine  produced  into  a  filament,  about  equal  to  length  of  body 


260    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

without  head;  anal  fin  small,  the  anterior  rays  reaching  past  the  tips  of 
the  posterior  when  deflexed,  the  longest  ray  notably  longer  than  width 
of  head;  ventral  fins  reaching  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  a  little  longer 
than  the  ventrals,  reaching  notably  past  the  origin  of  the  latter,  1.2  to 
1.25  in  head. 

Color  grayish  above,  pale  below;  back  with  4  or  5  indistinct 
cross-bars,  the  first  one  under  base  of  dorsal.  Fins  with  dark  spots  on 
the  rays. 

There  are  only  2  specimens  in  the  present  collection,  the  type  and 
paratype,  respectively  164  and  162  mm.  in  length.  These  were  taken 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Capeti,  tributary  of  the  Rio  Tuyra. 

Evidently  very  closely  related  to  L.  filamentosa  seminuda  Eigenmann 
&  Vance.  We  have  unfortunately  no  specimens  of  seminuda  at  hand, 
but  through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Eigenmann  we  were  enabled  to  exam- 
ine some  photographs  of  this  variety.  These  indicate  that  L.  capetensis 
has  the  abdominal  plates  much  more  weakly  developed,  leaving  more 
of  the  abdomen  naked.  The  head  appears  to  be  narrower.  Its  width 
at  gill-opening  is  equal  to  its  length  from  that  point  to  tip  of  snout  in 
L.  capetensis;  in  L.  filamentosa  seminuda  the  width  of  head  at  this  point 
is  greater  than  its  length  from  there  to  tip  of  snout.  Our  specimens 
are  somewhat  smaller  than  the  one  from  which  the  photographs  at 
hand  were  made,  and  it  may  be  that  the  differences  indicated  are  due 
to  age.  In  that  case  L.  capetensis  would  become  a  synonym  of  the 
latter. 

16.  Loricaria  fimbriata  Eigenmann  &  Vance. 

Loricaria  fimbriata  Eigenmann  &  Vance,  in  Eigenmann,  Indiana  Univ. 
Studies,  No.  16,  1912,  12  (Boca  de  Certegai  &  Bernal  Creek,  Co- 
lombia). 

Head  3.6  to  4.5;  depth  12.3  to  13.5;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  5;  lateral  scutes  30 
or  31. 

Body  depressed  throughout;  head  of  moderate  width;  snout  acute, 
its  margin  granulate,  2.1  to  2.4  in  head;  orbital  notch  small;  eye  5  to 
6.65  in  head;  interorbital  5.5  to  6;  mouth  small,  teeth  bifid,  the  inner 
cusp  much  the  longer,  each  jaw  with  about  8  teeth  on  each  side;  the  lips 
papillose,  the  margins  serrate;  barbel  short;  temporal  and  occipital 
plates  and  predorsal  scutes  striate  and  carinate;  sides  anteriorly  with  3 
keels,  the  upper  one  present  on  about  1 1  scutes,  the  other  2  coming  very 
close  together,  but  not  completely  united,  on  the  2oth  or  2ist  scute; 
ventral  surface  of  head  naked;  abdomen  laterally  with  a  series  of  in- 
conspicuous granular  plates  and  a  few  very  small  ones  on  median  line 
of  belly;  17  or  18  scutes  from  anal  to  base  of  caudal;  origin  of  dorsal 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    261 

over  base  of  ventrals;  the  rays  of  dorsal  reaching  equidistant  when  fin 
is  deflexed,  the  longest  rays  slightly  shorter  than  head;  caudal  fin  with 
concave  margin,  the  upper  lobe  the  longer,  upper  spine  produced  in  a 
filament;  anal  fin  small,  the  anterior  rays  not  reaching  beyond  the 
posterior  when  deflexed,  the  longest  ray  equal  to  width  of  head;  ventral 
fins  reaching  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  slightly  longer  than  the  ventrals, 
reaching  a  little  past  the  base  of  the  latter,  1.3  to  1.9  in  head. 

Color  grayish;  pale  below;  back  with  5  or  6  dark  cross-bars.  Fins 
with  dark  spots  on  the  rays. 

Of  this  species  there  are  4  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  50  to 
80  mm.  All  are  from  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Capeti,  tributary  of  the 
Rio  Tuyra. 

We  have  for  comparison  a  paratype  of  this  species,  with  which  our 
specimens  agree  perfectly. 

This  species  differs  from  L.  capetensis  in  the  smaller  and  more  delicate 
scutes  on  abdomen,  and  in  the  shorter  and  differently  shaped  dorsal  and 
anal  fins. 

12.  Genus  Oxyloricaria  Bleeker. 

Oxyloricaria  Bleeker,  Nederl.  Tijdschr.  Dierk.,  I,  1863,  81  (type  Lori- 
cat fia  barbata  Kner). 
This  genus  differs  from  Loricaria  in  the  more  numerous  and  setif onn 

teeth  and  in  the  absence  of  the  orbital  notch. 

KEY   TO    THE    SPECIES. 

a.     Snout  somewhat  produced,  pointed,  its  upper  profile  concave; 

lateral  scutes  33  to  35;  caudal  fin  with  a  dark  longitudinal  bar 

•    on  each  lobe.  panamensis,  p.  261. 

aa.    Snout  broadly  obtuse,  its  upper  profile  convex;  lateral  scutes 

30  or  31 ;  no  dark  bars  on  caudal  fin.  citurensis,  p.  262. 

17.  Oxyloricaria  panamensis  (Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann). 
Loricaria  rostrata  (non  Spix)  Steindachner,  Denkschr.   K.  Ak.  Wiss- 

Wien,  XLI,  1879,  165  (Rio  Mamoni,  Panama). 
Loricaria  panamensis  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci., 

2nd.     Ser.,  II,  1889,  34,  and  Occ.  Pap.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  I,  1890,  365 

(Panama). 
Loricaria  aurea  Steindachner,  Anz.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien.,  1900,  206,  and 

Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  LXXII,  1902,  138,  PI.  V,  fig.  i  (Rio 

Magdalena). 
Loricaria  frenata  Boulenger,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7,  IX,  1902, 

69  (N.  W.  Ecuador). 


262    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Oxyloricaria  panamensis  Regan,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  XVII,  Pt. 

Ill,  1904,  301  (Rio  Magdalena;  Panama). 
Oxyloricaria  frenata  Regan,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  XVII,  Pt.  Ill, 

1904,  302,  PI.  XVIII,  fig.  2  (N.  W.  Ecuador). 
Oxyloricaria  dariensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  81  (Rio  Tuyra  and  Rio  Bayano  basins,  Panama). 

Head  4.06  to  5.3;  depth  8.5  to  13;  D.  I,  7;  A.  I,  5;  lateral  scutes  33 

to  35- 

Body  long,  slender,  depressed  throughout;  head  without  ridges; 

snout  produced,  pointed,  its  margin  granular  or  with  short  bristles 
at  sides  in  male,  its  upper  profile  concave,  1.57  to  1.7  in  head;  eye  7.5 
to  9.55;  interorbital  3.1  to  4.2;  lips  reverted,  papillose;  maxillary  barbel 
shorter  than  eye;  predorsal  plates  3,  without  carinations;  lateral  keels 
anteriorly  obscure,  coming  close  together  in  young  and  uniting  in  the 
adult  on  the  i7th  to  the  2oth  scute;  19  or  20  scutes  from  anal  to  base  of 
caudal;  dorsal  fin  anteriorly  much  elevated,  notably  longer  than  head, 
its  origin  over  base  of  ventrals;  caudal  fin  forked,  both  lobes  produced, 
the  outer  ray  bearing  a  filament;  anal  fin  high,  the  undivided  ray  or 
spine  longer  than  head;  ventral  fins  reaching  opposite  or  past  base  of 
anal;  pectoral  fins  reaching  opposite  lower  third  or  lower  half  of  ventrals, 
the  spine  usually  equal  to  length  of  head. 

Color  plain  olive  above;  pale  below.  Anterior  rays  of  dorsal  black, 
the  black  sometimes  more  or  less  broken  up  into  spots;  caudal  fin  with 
a  dark  longitudinal  bar  on  each  lobe;  other  fins  all  with  more  or  less 
dusky  on  interradial  membranes. 

Of  this  species  we  have  86  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  50  to 
260  mm.  One  small  specimen  is  from  the  Rio  Calobre,  tributary  of  the 
Rio  Bayano  and  all  the  others  are  from  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin,  where  it 
is  quite  common. 

A  study  of  specimens  from  Colombia  and  Ecuador  along  with  our 
specimens  shows  that  there  are  quite  a  number  of  synonyms  under  this 
species.  The  fact  that  the  lateral  keels  in  the  young  are  not  completely 
united  while  in  the  adult  they  are,  in  part  at  least  accounts  for  the 
numerous  names  that  have  been  proposed. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  Panama,  both  slopes  of  Colombia,  south  to 
Ecuador. 

18.  Oxyloricaria  citurensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Oxyloricaria  citurensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.   Nat.    Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  82  (Rio  Cupe,  Cituro,  Panama). 

Head  4.55  to  5.1;  depth  8.5  to  10;  D.  I,  7;  A.  6;  lateral  scutes 
3°  or  31. 


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DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    263 

Body  depressed;  anterior  profile  straight  or  gently  convex;  head 
without  ridges;  snout  not  produced,  broadly  obtuse,  its  margin  granu- 
lar, with  short  bristles  on  sides  in  male,  its  length  1.7  to  1.8  in  head;  eye 
without  orbital  notch,  6.5  to  8.7;  interorbital  3.1  to  3.6;  lips  reverted, 
papillose;  maxillary  barbel  shorter  than  eye;  predorsal  plates  3,  without 
carinations;  lateral  keels  anteriorly  obscure  or  wanting,  coalesced  on 
1 5th  or  1 6th  scute;  17  or  18  scutes  from  anal  to  base  of  caudal;  5  to  8 
rows  of  small  plates  on  belly  between  lateral  series;  dorsal  fin  anteriorly 
not  greatly  elevated,  not  much  longer  than  head,  its  origin  over  base  of 
ventrals;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  outer  ray  of  both  lobes  produced,  the 
upper  one  bearing  a  filament;  anal  fin  anteriorly  moderately  elevated, 
the  spine  somewhat  shorter  than  head;  ventral  fins  reaching  to  or  a 
little  past  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  reaching  a  little  beyond  base  of 
ventrals,  1.05  to  1.23  in  head. 

Color  dark  grayish  brown,  with  obscure  darker  blotches  above; 
pale  below.  Fins  usually  with  indistinct  dark  markings. 

This  species  is  represented  by  many  specimens,  ranging  from  40  to 
250  mm.  in  length.  This  fish  was  found  only  in  the  Rio  Bayano  and 
Rio  Tuyra  basins.  It  is  rare  in  the  former  but  abundant  in  the  latter. 

This  species  is  rather  closely  related  to  0.  tamana  Regan,  from  which 
it  differs  in  having  from  5  to  8  longitudinal  rows  of  plates  on  belly 
between  the  lateral  series,  instead  of  only  3.  The  snout  in  the  present 
species  is  more  obtuse  and  the  fins  are  lower. 


Family  III.   Callichthyidae. 

Sides  with  2  series  of  lateral  scutes;  mouth  terminal,  lower  lip  not 
reverted;  ah-  bladder  vestigiary,  one  on  each  side  of  the  coalesced  verte- 
brae and  entirely  surrounded  by  a  bony  capsule,  the  cavity  communicat- 
ing with  the  exterior  by  means  of  a  long  narrow  slit  in  the  temporal 
plate.  Caudal  vertebrae  normal,  the  neural  and  haemal  spines  spine- 
like,  separated  from  each  other. 

13.  Genus  Hoplosternum  Gill . 

Hoplosternum  Gill,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  VI,  1858,  395   (type 

Callichthys  l&vigatus  Valenciennes  =  Callichthys  littoralis  Hancock). 

Body  with  2  lateral  series  of  scutes,  overlapping  along  median  line, 

forming  a  depression;  gill-membranes  confluent  with  the  skin  of  the 

isthmus;  two  pairs  of  nuchal  plates  between  humeral  and  coracoid 

process;  coracoids  exposed;  2  pairs  of  maxillary  barbels;  no  mandibular 


264     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

barbels;  a  naked  area  along  ventral  surface;  adipose  fin  with  a  spine; 
ventral  fins  inserted  below  or  anterior  to  the  dorsal  fin;  dorsal  spine  low; 
pectoral  spine  serrate  on  its  inner  margin,  its  surface  covered  with 
bristles. 

19.  Hoplosternum  punctatum  sp.  nov. 

?Callichihys   (Hoplosternum)  ihoracatus  (non  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes) 

Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  XLI,  1880,  66  (Cauca, 

near  Caceres). 

Type  No.  8943,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  no  mm.;  Rio  Marte  Arnade, 
six  miles  east  of  Panama  City. 

Head  2.96  to  3.26;  depth  3.1  to  3.54;  D.  I,  7  or  8;  A.  I,  6;  lateral 
scutes,  25  above  lateral  line  and  23  or  24  below  it. 

Body  rather  robust;  dorsal  region  moderately  elevated;  anterior 
profile  straight  or  gently  convex ;  head  broader  than  deep ;  snout  obtuse, 
its  length  2.2  to  2.36  in  head;  eye  lateral,  7.45  to  8;  interorbital  1.6  to 
1.67;  mouth  subterminal,  rather  small,  its  width  less  than  length  of 
snout;  barbels  varying  in  length,  the  longest  reaching  from  lower  third 
to  opposite  distal  third  of  pectoral  spine;  the  lower  lip  with  2  fleshy 
lobes;  fontanel  elongate  in  young,  oval  to  nearly  circular  in  adult; 
occipital  failing  to  reach  fontanel;  the  scutes  without  carinations;  5 
or  6  azygous  plates  in  front  of  adipose  spine;  coracoids  close  together 
anteriorly,  or  overlapping  in  the  male,  separated  posteriorly  by  a 
V-shaped  naked  area;  distance  between  pectorals  equal  to  or  slightly 
shorter  than  length  of  coracoid  plates;  dorsal  fin  inserted  notably 
nearer  tip  of  snout  than  adipose;  dorsal  spine  about  equal  to  length  of 
snout;  adipose  with  a  rather  strong  spine,  the  membrane  adnate  to  the 
back;  caudal  fin  with  concave  margin,  but  not  as  deep  as  in  H.  magda- 
lence;  anal  fin  small,  its  origin  by  2  scutes  in  advance  of  adipose;  ventral 
fins  about  as  long  as  snout  and  eye,  a  naked  area  between  them,  extend- 
ing back  to  vent;  pectoral  fins  failing  to  reach  base  of  ventrals  except 
in  young,  the  spine  with  serrations  on  the  back  side,  its  length  1.56  to 
1.73  in  head. 

Color  brownish  black  above,  somewhat  paler  below.  Entire  body, 
except  upper  surface  of  head  and  dorsal  region,  with  small,  roundish 
black  spots.  These  spots  are  also  present  on  the  rays  of  the  dorsal  and 
caudal  fins.  Base  of  caudal  with  a  black  bar,  followed  by  a  yellowish  bar. 

Of  this  species  we  have  4  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  85  to  no 
mm.  The  largest  we  designate  as  the  type.  These  were  taken  in  the 
Rio  Marte  Arnade,  a  small  coastal  stream  about  6  miles  east  of  Panama. 
This  is  the  only  place  where  this  fish  was  seen.  Our  specimens  were 
taken  during  April,  1911.  During  March  the  following  year  this  stream 


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DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     265 

was  again  visited  and  thoroughly  fished,  but  no  more  specimens  were 
secured. 

This  fish  differs  from  H.  magdalence  Eigenmann  in  the  more  an- 
terior position  of  the  dorsal,  the  less  deeply  concave  margin  of  the 
caudal  fin,  the  fewer  azygous  plates  in  front  of  adipose  spine,  the 
shorter  coracoids,  and  in  coloration. 

Cattichthys  (Hoplosternum)  thoracatus  Steindachner  (non  C.  &  V.) 
from  the  Cauca  appears  to  be  very  closely  related  to  this  species,  if  not 
identical  with  it. 

The  present  species  is  the  most  northern  representative  of  the  genus. 


Family  IV.   Cyclopidae. 

Naked  fishes  with  robust  or  elongate  bodies;  dorsal  fin  on  anterior 
portion  of  body;  usually  an  adipose  fin  with  or  without  a  spine,  or  repre- 
sented by  a  movable  spine  attached  by  a  membrane  to  the  caudal 
peduncle;  teeth  in  jaws  in  more  than  one  series. 

These  fishes  inhabit  mountain  streams  of  the  Andes  of  Peru  to  Vene- 
zuela and  Panama. 


14.  Genus  Cyclopium  Swainson. 

Cyclopium  Swainson,  Nat.  Hist.  Fishes,  II,  1839,  305  (type  Pimelodus 

cyclopium  Humboldt). 

Body  elongate,  naked,  compressed  anteriorly;  teeth  small;  eye  small, 
superior;  adipose  fin  a  movable  spine  attached  to  caudal  peduncle  by 
a  membrane,  or  a  long  fin  with  or  without  a  small  embedded  spine;  ribs 
moderately  developed;  caudal  fin  truncate  or  slightly  emarginate,  the 
outer  rays  slightly  produced. 

Small,  naked  fishes  inhabiting  mountain  streams  of  the  Andes  of 
Ecuador,  Peru,  Colombia,  Venezuela,  and  eastern  Panama. 

20.  Cyclopium  pirrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Cyclopium  pirrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  83  (Rio  Cana,  Cana,  Panama). 

Head  3.3  to  3.6;  depth  5  to  6;  D.  I,  5;  A.  I,  5. 

Body  robust,  compressed  posteriorly;  head  depressed,  broad,  its 
width  equalling  its  length;  anterior  teeth  of  upper  jaw  pointed,  those  of 
the  lower  bicuspid;  snout  1.8  to  2  in  head;  interorbital  3.4  to  4.1;  origin 
of  dorsal  over  ventrals,  its  distance  from  tip  of  snout  2.2  to  2.4  in  body; 
maxillary  barbel  reaching  slightly  past  eye;  nostrils  with  a  triangular 


266    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

flap;  first  dorsal  ray  with  its  tip  produced,  its  length  i.i  to  1.4  in  head, 
the  tips  of  first  dorsal  rays  reaching  slightly  past  those  of  the  last  rays 
when  the  fin  is  deflexed;  pectoral  spines  produced,  their  tips  reaching 
to  or  past  middle  of  ventrals,  their  length  .7  to  .9  in  head;  ventrals  i 
to  1.2;  adipose  fin  long,  without  trace  of  spine;  caudal  peduncle  deep, 
1.7  to  1.9  in  head;  last  anal  ray  to  caudal  1.5  to  1.7  in  head;  caudal 
emarginate,  the  outer  rays  produced. 

Color  brownish  mottled  with  darker;  base  of  anal  and  dorsal  black; 
a  faint  black  bar  at  base  of  caudal  rays;  base  of  first  rays  of  anal  usually 
with  a  black  spot. 

This  species  was  quite  abundant  in  the  Rio  Cana  at  Cana.  Longest 
specimen  130  mm.  This  species  ranges  farther  north  than  any  of  the 
other  species  of  the  family. 


Family  V.   Pygidiidae. 

Small  fishes  with  naked  bodies,  usually  villifonn  teeth,  remote  nares, 
skull  covered  with  skin  and  muscles,  no  adipose  fin,  and  a  rudimentary 
air  bladder  enclosed  in  the  lateral  processes  of  the  coalescent  vertebrae. 
The  family  is  represented  by  a  number  of  genera,  but  only  one  species 
is  known  to  inhabit  Panama. 


15.  Genus  Pygidium  Meyen. 

Pygidium  Meyen,  Reise  in  Peru,  I,  1835,  475  (type  Pygidium  fuscum 

Meyen). 

Body  elongate,  subterete;  mouth  terminal  or  subterminal;  teeth  in 
bands  in  both  jaws;  maxillary  with  2  pairs  of  barbels;  a  single  pair  of 
nasal  barbels;  eyes  superior;  dorsal  over  or  behind  ventrals;  its  origin 
over  or  in  advance  of  origin  of  anal ;  without  spine ;  no  adipose  fin ;  opercle 
and  preopercle  with  small  spines;  body  naked;  gill-membranes  nearly 
free  from  the  isthmus  or  forming  a  free  fold  across  it. 

Small  fishes  inhabiting  mountain  streams  from  Central  Chili  to 
Panama  and  southeastern  Brazil  and  central  Argentina. 

21.    Pygidium  stria  turn  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Pygidium  striatum  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,X.  1913,  78  (Rio  Cana,  Cana,  Panama). 

Head  4.9  to  5.75;  depth  6.35  to  7.35;  D.  8;  A.  6. 

Body  elongate;  head  depressed;  body  posteriorly  compressed;  snout 
broad,  its  length  2.08  to  2.9  in  head;  eye  very  small,  wholly  superior, 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     267 

without  free  orbital  margin,  about  n  to  14  in  head;  interorbital  3.5  to 
4.2;  mouth  rather  wide,  its  width  nearly  as  great  as  length  of  snout; 
upper  jaw  projecting;  the  longest  maxillary  barbel  reaching  to  or  a 
little  past  gill-opening;  teeth  in  the  jaws  in  villiform  bands;  dorsal  fin 
with  convex  margin,  its  origin  about  midway  between  gill-opening  and 
tip  of  caudal;  caudal  fin  with  a  straight  or  slightly  convex  margin;  anal 
fin  small,  its  origin  under  or  behind  base  of  last  ray  of  anal;  ventral  fins 
inserted  considerably  in  advance  of  origin  of  dorsal,  reaching  vent; 
pectoral  fins  inserted  under  margin  of  opercle,  without  a  definite  spine, 
i  to  1.33  in  head. 

Color  light  olive;  a  dark  band  from  upper  angle  of  gill-opening  to 
base  of  caudal.  In  some  individuals  there  is  anteriorly  a  dark  band 
above  this  one  and  one  below  it.  These  bands  in  most  specimens  are 
broken  up  into  small  round  spots  which  are  not  much  larger  than  eye. 
The  back  with  small  black  spots;  in  large  examples  these  are  also 
sometimes  present  on  lower  part  of  sides. 

Of  this  species  32  specimens  were  obtained,  ranging  in  length  from 
40  to  90  mm.  These  are  all  from  a  small  creek  at  Cana  in  the  upper 
Rio  Tuyra  Basin.  This  creek  was  very  rocky,  and  the  bottom  was 
covered  with  a  reddish  sediment. 

The  species  of  this  genus  are  difficult  to  determine  and  the  entire 
genus  stands  in  need  of  revision.  Our  fish  is  closely  related  to  P. 
bogatense  Eigenmann  and  also  to  P.  chapmani  Eigenmann.  From  both 
it  differs  in  color  and  in  the  slightly  more  anterior  position  of  the  dorsal 
fin. 


Order  II.   Plectospondyli. 

THE  CARP-LIKE  FISHES. 

Body  scaly;  dorsal  fin  single;  fins  without  true  spines.  Parietals 
broad,  distinct;  the  four  anterior  vertebrae  joined  together;  opercular 
bones  all  present. 

Family  VI.   Characidae. 

Body  variously  shaped,  covered  with  scales  which  usually  are 
cycloid;  head  naked;  upper  jaw  mesially  formed  by  the  premaxillaries, 
laterally  by  the  maxillaries;  teeth  various;  dorsal  fin  small,  without 
spines;  adipose  fin  usually  present.  Adipose  fin  wanting  in  the  genera, 
Hoplias  and  Phanagoniates,  which  come  within  the  scope  of  the  present 
work. 


268    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

KEY   TO   THE    GENERA. 

a.  Caudal  fin  forked;  adipose  fin  present  (except  in  Phanagoniates) . 

b.  Scales  cycloid. 

c.  Teeth  wanting.     (Curimatince)  Curimatus,  p.  269. 
cc.  Teeth  in  lower  jaw  wanting.  (Parodontin&)  Apareiodon,  p.  270. 
ccc.  Teeth  present  in  both  jaws. 

d.  Teeth  in  a  single  series  in  each  jaw;  lateral  line  incomplete. 
(Cheirodontince) 

e.  Adipose  fin  wanting;  anal  fin  long,  with  more  than  40  rays. 

Phanagoniates,  p.  272. 
ee.      Adipose  fin  present;  anal  fin  short,  with  fewer  than  30  rays. 

f .  Lower  half  of  base  of  caudal  in  the  male  with  a  peculiar  lobe  of 
enlarged  scales.  Compsura,  p.  273. 

ff.       No  enlarged  scales  on  base  of  caudal. 

Pseudocheirodon  gen.  nov.,  p.  275. 

dd.  Teeth  in  upper  jaw  in  2  series,  those  in  lower  jaw  in  a  single 
series.  (Tetragonopterina) 

g.  The  thoracic  region  not  greatly  dilated  or  compressed. 
h.       Lateral  line  complete 

i.  Dorsal  fin  inserted  far  back,  its  origin  nearer  caudal  than  eye, 
notably  behind  origin  of  anal.  Gephyrocharax,  p.  277. 

ii.       Dorsal  fin  inserted  over  or  in  advance  of  anal. 

j.  Maxillary  with  few  or  no  teeth;  caudal  spot  if  present  not 
extended  on  middle  caudal  rays. 

k.  Second  suborbital  narrow,  leaving  a  naked  triangular  area  below 
suture  between  the  first  and  second  suborbitals;  first  series  of 
premaxillary  teeth  regularly  placed.  Astyanax,  p.  279. 

kk.  Second  suborbital  expanded,  covering  nearly  the  entire  cheek, 
not  leaving  a  naked  triangle  below  suture  between  the  first  and 
second  suborbitals;  first  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  more  or 
less  irregularly  placed.  Bryconamericus,  p.  282. 

jj.  Maxillary  in  adult  with  from  5  to  25  teeth;  the  inner  caudal  rays 
black.  Hemibrycon,  p.  285. 

hh.     Lateral  line  incomplete;    no  caudal  spot. 

Hyphessobrycon,  p.  286. 

gg.  The  thoracic  region  greatly  compressed,  dialated,  forming  a 
semicircular  disc.  (Gasteropelecina)  Thoracocharax,  p.  287. 

ddd.  Premaxillary  teeth  in  3  series;  teeth  in  mandible  in  i  or  2  series, 
if  with  2  series,  the  outer  one  composed  of  only  2  teeth  on  edge 
of  jaw  and  directed  forward. 

1.  Anal  fin  short,  with  not  more  than  17  rays;  body  long,  little 
compressed.  (Tetragonoptrind)  Creagrutus,  p.  289. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     269 

11.       Anal  fin  long,  with  more  than  40  rays;  body  strongly  compressed 
anterior  profile  in  adult  deeply  concave.     (Characince) 

Rceboides,  p.  291. 

dddd.  Premaxillary  teeth  anteriorly  in  3  or  4  series,  laterally  in  2  or  3 

series;  mandible  with  2  series,  the  inner  series  composed  of  only 

2  conical  teeth,  placed  a  little  behind  the  anterior  teeth  of  outer 

series.     (Bryconinai)  Brycon,  p.  293. 

ddddd.  Premaxillary  teeth  in  a  single  series;  mandibular  teeth  in  2 

series;  lateral  line  wanting.     (Piabucinia)    Piabucina,  p.  299. 

bb.     Scales  strongly  pectinate;  form  slender;  jaws  much  produced, 

beak-like;  palatines  with  a  few  teeth.     (Hydrocynina) 

Luciocharax,  p.  302. 

aa.      Caudal  fin  rounded;  adipose  fin  wanting;  palatines  with  teeth. 
(Erythrinina)  Hoplias,  p.  303. 

16.  Genus  Curimatus  Oken. 

Curimatus  Oken,  Isis,  1817,  1183  (type  Salmo  edentulus  Bloch). 

Body  elongate,  robust,  moderately  compressed,  abdomen  behind 
ventrals  trenchant  or  not;  mouth  small,  without  lips;  tongue  short, 
thick,  adnate;  teeth  wanting;  lateral  line  complete;  adipose  fin  present; 
ventrals  inserted  below  dorsal. 

22.  Curimatus  magdalenae  Steindachner.    Savaleta. 

Curimatus  magdalenae  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien, 
XXIX,  1878,  50  (Rio  Magdalena);  Steindachner,  I.e.,  XLI,  1879, 
167  (Rio  Mamoni,  Panama);  Steindachner,  I.e.,  XLI,  1880,  67 
(Rio  Cauca) ;  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Acad.  Sci.,  IV, 
1889,  1 6  (name  only);  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus.,  XIV,  1891,  47;  Eigenmann,  Science,  N.  S.,  XXII,  July  7, 1905, 
19;  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1906, 
332;  Boulenger,  Boll.  Mus.  Univ.  Torino,  No.  346,  1899,  2  (Laguna 
della  Pita,  Darien);  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1908,  174; 
Eigenmann,  Repts.  Princeton  Univ.  Exp.  Patagonia,  III,  Pt.  IV, 
1910,  421. 
Head  3  to  3.9;  depth  2.6  to  3.2;  D.  10  or  n;  A.  9  or  10;  scales  in 

lateral  line  37  to  40;  5^  or  6  rows  between  lateral  line  and  base  of 

anterior  dorsal  rays. 

Body  elongate,  moderately  compressed;  dorsal  region  somewhat 

elevated;  preventral  area  convex;  postventral  area  usually  very  slightly 

keeled;  caudal  peduncle  compressed,  its  depth  1.85  to  2.2  in  head;  head 

rather  low,  its  upper  surface  with  a  low  median  ridge,  ending  at  a  short 


270    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

groove  at  nape;  snout  broad,  3.5  to  4.3  in  head;  eye  3.4  to  4;  mouth  wide; 
jaws  weak;  gill-rakers  very  short;  lateral  line  straight,  slightly  above  the 
middle  of  side;  scales  large,  regularly  placed,  with  a  serrate  membranous 
border,  n  or  12  on  median  line  in  advance  of  dorsal;  dorsal  fin  inserted 
midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  tip  of  adipose  or  slightly  nearer  the 
latter;  caudal  forked,  the  lobes  with  small  scales  at  base;  anal  fin  with 
concave  margin,  the  anterior  rays  reaching  far  beyond  tips  of  posterior 
rays  when  deflexed;  ventral  fins  inserted  under  the  base  of  dorsal; 
pectoral  fins  a  little  shorter  than  the  ventrals,  1.4  to  1.8  in  head. 

Color  plain  brassy,  darker  above  than  below;  no  distinct  markings 
on  body  or  fins. 

The  Panama  collection  contains  263  specimens,  ranging  in  length 
from  75  to  200  mm.  These  were  taken  at  the  following  localities:  a. 
Rio  Chorrera  Basin,  at  Chorrera  and  a  small  creek  near  Chorrera. 
b.  Rio  Marte  Arnade.  c.  Rio  Abaco.  d.  Rio  Juan  Diaz.  e.  Rio 
Bayano  Basin,  at  El  Capitan,  Chepo,  and  Rio  Calobre.  f .  Rio  Tuyra 
Basin,  at  mouth  of  Rio  Yape,  Rio  Capete,  Rio  Cupe  at  Boca  de  Cupe, 
Rio  Aruza  at  Aruza,  Rio  Cituro  at  Cituro,  Rio  Setiganti  at  Cana,  Rio 
Grande  near  Cana.  The  above  includes  all  of  the  river  basins  visited 
on  the  Pacific  slope  of  Panama,  except  the  Rio  Chame  and  the  Rio 
Grande.  The  latter  lies  almost  wholly  within  the  Canal  Zone  and  had 
at  the  time  of  our  visit  already  been  much  disturbed  by  the  construction 
of  the  Canal.  There  is  little  doubt  but  that  this  fish  occurred  there 
before  the  digging  of  the  Canal,  as  it  is  abundant  in  streams  on  both 
sides  of  it. 

This  fish  was  not  found  by  us  where  there  was  much  current,  but 
it  occurred  most  commonly  in  quiet  pools  and  often  in  stagnant  ponds. 
It  is  common  in  streams  at  the  head  of  tide  water.  The  highest  eleva- 
tion at  which  it  was  taken  was  at  Cana  in  the  upper  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 

We  have  specimens  for  comparison  from  the  Atlantic  slope  of 
Colombia.  No  differences  are  apparent,  except  that  the  Panama 
specimens  appear  to  be  somewhat  darker  in  color. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  Panama,  Atrato  and  Magdalena  basins  and 
Lake  Maracaibo. 

17.  Genus  Apareiodon  Eigenmann. 

Apareiodon  Eigenmann,  Ann.  Carnegie  Mus.,  X,  1915  (1916),  71  (type 

Parodon  piraciaba  Eigenmann). 

Small  fishes  with  elongate,  little  compressed  body;  ventral  surface 
flattish;  head  small;  snout  pointed;  mouth  inferior,  a  transverse  slit; 
lower  jaw  scoop-shaped,  the  lip  with  a  straight  transverse  margin 


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DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  or  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    271 

opposed  to  the  premaxiltary  teeth;  the  latter  narrow  at  bases,  broad  at 
tips,  the  cusps  of  about  equal  length,  forming  a  straight  transverse 
cutting  edge;  no  teeth  on  sides  of  lower  jaw;  gill-membranes  broadly 
united,  free  from  the  isthmus;  gill-opening  short;  gill-rakers  very  short; 
lateral  line  complete;  scales  moderate,  35  to  45  in  lateral  series,  a  few 
large  scales  on  caudal  lobes;  dorsal  fin  inserted  in  advance  of  middle 
of  body,  partly  in  front  of  ventrals;  anal  very  short;  pectorals  and  ven- 
trals  similar,  short  and  broad;  adipose  fin  minute,  over  posterior  rays  of 
anal. 

23.  Apareiodon  dariensis  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

Parodon  dariensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.   Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  83  (Rio  Cupe,  Cituro,  Darien,  Panama). 
Apareiodon  dariensis  Eigenmann,  Ann.  Carnegie  Mus.,  X,  1915  (1916), 

?i- 

Head  4.6  to  4.7;  depth  4  to  4.2;  D.  n;  A.  9;  scales  35  to  37. 

Body  elongate,  not  much  compressed;  dorsal  profile  anteriorly 
evenly  convex;  lower  outline  anteriorly  straight,  parallel  with  longitu- 
dinal axis  of  body;  head  not  deeper  than  wide;  snout  pointed,  much  in 
advance  of  mouth,  2.8  to  3  in  head;  eye  4.2  to  4.4;  mouth  very  small, 
inferior;  the  lower  lip  with  a  straight  transverse  margin  in  the  largest 
specimen,  the  type,  in  the  next  largest  it  is  somewhat  rounded,  in  the 
smallest  it  is  distinctly  triangular  and  feebly  5  lobed;  lower  jaw  entirely 
without  teeth  in  the  3  specimens  at  hand;  teeth  in  upper  jaw  in  the 
largest  specimen  very  narrow  at  base  expanded  at  tip,  with  a  transverse, 
pectinate  margin;  teeth  of  middle  size  specimen  narrow  at  base,  then 
expanded  and  again  narrower  at  tip,  one  of  the  cusps  much  enlarged, 
pointed;  those  of  the  smallest  specimen  narrow  at  base,  much  expanded 
at  tip  with  an  oblique,  smooth  margin;  lateral  line  complete,  straight, 
very  feebly  developed,  especially  in  our  smallest  specimen;  scales 
moderate,  striate,  regularly  placed,  10  or  n  in  median  series  in  advance 
of  dorsal;  2^  rows  between  lateral  line  and  base  of  anal;  5  or  6  across 
caudal  peduncle  from  one  lateral  line  to  the  other;  dorsal  fin  inserted 
in  advance  of  ventrals,  its  origin  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  tip 
of  adipose  or  a  little  nearer  the  latter;  adipose  fin  small,  over  posterior 
rays  of  anal;  caudal  fin  forked,  with  a  few  large  scales  on  base  of  fin; 
anal  fin  very  small,  shorter  than  dorsal,  its  origin  nearer  base  of  caudal 
than  base  of  ventrals;  ventral  fins  very  broad,  with  9  rays,  reaching  past 
vent  which  is  situated  midway  between  base  of  ventrals  and  origin  of 
anal;  pectoral  fins  broad,  with  14  rays,  inserted  under  margin  of 
opercle,  reaching  about  %  of  the  distance  from  their  base  to  origin  of 
ventrals. 


272    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Color  very  dark  brownish  green  above,  pale  below;  sides  with  2 
lateral  bands,  partly  broken  into  confluent  black  spots;  dorsal,  anal 
and  both  lobes  of  caudal  each  with  2  oblique,  black  bars;  pectorals 
and  ventrals  each  with  more  or  less  black  mesially. 

Of  this  species  only  3  specimens,  respectively  105,  120  and  135  mm. 
in  length,  were  taken.  All  are  from  the  Rio  Cupe  at  Cituro,  where  this 
stream  is  very  rocky  and  seining  is  difficult. 

The  variation  in  dentition  in  the  specimens  at  hand  has  been  noted 
above.  From  this  it  is  evident  that  only  the  largest  specimen,  the  type, 
is  a  typical  Apareiodon.  However,  as  no  other  differences  are  evident, 
we  have  identified  them  all  as  one  species  and  we  tentatively  place  them 
under  the  above  named  genus. 

18.  Genus  Phanagoniates  Eigenmann  &  Wilson. 

Phenagoniates  Eigenmann  &  Wilson,  Indiana  Univ.  Studies,  No.  19, 
1914,  2  (type  Phenagoniates  wilsoni  Eigenmann  = /to&owks  ma- 
crolepis  Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

Body  elongate,  strongly  compressed;  chest  not  trenchant;  teeth  in 
a  single  series  in  each  jaw,  tricuspid  except  in  posterior  part  of  maxillary 
where  they  are  conical;  anal  fin  very  long,  its  origin  far  in  advance  of 
dorsal;  origin  of  dorsal  a  little  behind  middle  of  body;  pectoral  fins  long, 
over-lapping  the  minute  ventrals;  no  adipose  fin;  lateral  line  incomplete. 

24.  Phanagoniates  macrolepis  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

Roeboides  macrolepis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,   1913,  84  (Rio  Cupe,  Boca  de  Cupe,  Rio  Tuyra 

Basin). 
Phenagoniates  wilsoni  Eigenmann,  Indiana  Univ.  Studies,  No.  19,  1914, 

(Manigru,  Rio  Atrato  Basin). 
Phanagoniates  wilsoni  Eigenmann,  Memoir.  Carnegie  Mus.,  VII,  1916, 

43,  PL  5,  fig.  i. 

Head  4.6  to  5.1;  depth  3.3  to  3.9;  D.  8  or  9;  A.  49  to  53;  scales  in 
lateral  series  40  to  44. 

Body  elongate,  much  compressed,  the  dorsal  profile  gently  convex, 
highest  at  origin  of  dorsal;  head  small;  snout  conical,  3.65  to  4.35  in 
head;  eye  2.6  to  3;  interorbital  2.9  to  3.8;  mouth  small;  the  lower  jaw 
a  little  in  advance  of  the  upper;  maxillary  reaching  anterior  margin  of 
eye;  premaxillary  teeth  tricuspid,  12  in  number;  maxillary  with  about 
8  teeth,  the  3  anterior  ones  similar  to  premaxillary,  the  others  conical; 
lower  jaw  with  about  18  tricuspid  teeth,  a  little  stronger  than  pre- 
maxillary teeth;  gill-rakers  short,  far  apart,  about  6  on  lower  limb  of 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     273 

first  arch;  lateral  line  incomplete,  present  on  10  to  16  scales;  scales  thin, 
striate;  dorsal  fin  small,  its  origin  somewhat  nearer  base  of  caudal  than 
tip  of  snout;  caudal  fin  naked,  its  lower  lobe  the  longer;  anal  fin  very- 
long,  its  base  greater  than  half  the  length  of  body;  ventral  fins  minute, 
scarcely  longer  than  eye,  reaching  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  rather 
long,  overlapping  ventrals,  but  not  quite  reaching  the  tips  of  the  latter. 

Color  translucent,  silvery;  sides  with  a  dusky  band,  most  distinct 
posteriorly.  Scales  with  chromatophores,  which  are  also  present  on 
the  fins;  chin  and  maxillary  black;  no  caudal  spot. 

The  present  collection  contains  12  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging 
in  length  from  35  to  57  mm.  These  were  taken  at  various  points  in  the 
Rio  Tuyra  Basin.  A  comparatively  rare  species. 

We  have  for  comparison  a  paratype  of  P.  wilsoni  Eigenmann,  which 
we  find  to  be  identical  with  the  present  species.  It  is  noted  that  in  the 
original  description  of  P.  wilsoni  the  scales  in  the  lateral  series  are  given 
as  34  or  35.  However,  we  are  able  to  count  42  in  the  paratype  that  is 
at  hand. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  and  Rio  Atrato  basins. 

19.  Genus  Compsura  Eigenmann. 

Compsura  Eigenmann,  Memoir.  Carnegie  Mus.,  VII,  1916,  60  (type 

Compsura  heterura  Eigenmann). 

Minute  fishes,  with  few  teeth;  multicuspid  incisors,  in  a  single  series 
in  each  jaw,  2  or  3  teeth  on  maxillary;  second  suborbital  in  contact 
with  the  preopercle  below  and  partly  behind;  lateral  line  incomplete; 


FIG.  1.    DIAGRAM  SHOWING  THE  PECULIAR  SCALING  AT  BASE  OF  CAUDAL  FIN 

OF  THE  MALE  OF  Compsura  gorgoiut  (Evermann  &  Goldsborough). 

scales  thin,  with  a  few  radiating  striae;  the  male  with  a  peculiar  lobe  of 
enlarged  scales  on  lower  half  of  base  of  caudal;  origin  of  dorsal  about 
equidistant  from  snout  and  base  of  caudal;  adipose  fin  well  developed; 
interhasmal  spines  of  caudal  peduncle  not  projecting;  a  conspicuous 
caudal  spot  present. 


274    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

This  genus  differs  from  Cheirodon  in  the  peculiar  scaling  on  the 
lower  half  of  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin  of  the  male,  and  also  in  the 
non-projecting  interhaemal  spines  of  the  caudal  peduncle. 

25.  Compsura  gorgonse  (Evermann  &  Goldsborough). 

Cheirodon  gorgona  Evermann  &  Goldsborough,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash., 

XXII,  1909,  99,  figs,  i  and  3  (Gorgona,  Atlantic  slope,  Panama 

Canal  Zone). 
Cheirodon  insignis  Eigenmann,  Memoir.  Carnegie  Mus.,  VII,  1916,  69 

(in  part). 

Head  3.7  to  4.25;  depth  2.55  to  3.3;  D.  10  or  n;  A.  16  to  20;  scales 
31  to  33. 

Body  rather  short,  compressed;  profile  gently  convex  from  snout  to 
dorsal;  head  small;  snout  short,  4.1  to  5.4  in  head;  eye  2.6  to  3.25; 
interorbital  3.1  to  3.6;  mouth  small;  jaws  subequal;  maxillary  reaching 
anterior  margin  of  eye;  premaxillary  teeth  usually  10  in  number,  each 
tooth  with  about  6  cusps,  the  median  cusps  considerably  enlarged; 


FIG.  2.     FRONT  TEETH  OF  Compsura  gorgon*  (Evermann  &  Goldsborough). 
(After  Evermann  &  Goldsborough.) 

maxillary  usually  with  2  teeth,  similar  to  the  premaxillary  teeth;  teeth 
in  lower  jaw  usually  12  in  number,  close  together,  the  expanded  tips 
slightly  overlapping,  each  with  about  6  cusps,  the  median  ones  only 
slightly  enlarged,  making  the  margin  evenly  convex;  lateral  line  in- 
complete, present  on  5  to  13  scales;  scales  thin,  striate,  10  to  12  in 
advance  of  dorsal;  8  to  10  rows  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  dorsal  fin 
pointed,  the  anterior  rays  the  longest,  its  origin  midway  between  tip  of 
snout  and  base  of  caudal;  adipose  fin  over  last  ray  of  anal,  notably 
nearer  base  of  caudal  than  dorsal  fin;  caudal  fin  naked,  the  lower  lobe 
the  longer;  origin  of  anal  under  last  rays  of  dorsal,  its  base  considerably 
shorter  than  depth  of  body;  ventral  fins  inserted  a  little  in  advance 
of  dorsal,  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  some- 
what longer  than  ventrals,  usually  not  quite  reaching  the  base  of  the 
latter. 

Color  silvery,  with  a  narrow  plumbeous  band;  a  very  conspicuous 
black  oval  caudal  spot,  not  extended  on  caudal  rays.    Head  and  body 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 


PLATE  XVIII,  ZOOLOGY. 


PSEUDOCHEIRODON  AFFlNIS  gen.  et  sp.  nov. 
From  a  male  specimen  40  mm.  in  length. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     275 

with  comparatively  few  dusky  points,  those  above  base  of  anal  more  or 
less  regularly  arranged  in  the  form  of  several  V's  with  the  apex  pointed 
backward.  Fins  with  dusky  points,  those  on  the  anal  fin  mostly 
arranged  in  a  single  series  and  on  the  anterior  margin  of  the  rays,  few 
or  none  on  the  interradial  membranes. 

Of  this  species  there  are  over  200  specimens  in  the  present  collection, 
ranging  in  length  from  25  to  40  mm.  It  is  found  along  with  Pseudo- 
cheirodon affinis,  but  is  apparently  less  numerous. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama. 

20.  Pseudocheirodon  gen.  nov. 

Type  Pseudocheirodon  affinis  sp.  nov. 

Minute  fishes  ranging  in  length  from  25  to  60  mm.  Body  elongate, 
compressed;  the  back  elevated;  head  small;  second  suborbital  covering 
nearly  the  entire  cheek;  teeth  in  each  jaw  in  a  single  series,  expanded  at 
tips,  their  cutting  margins  transverse  or  slightly  rounded;  2  or  3  teeth 
on  maxillary;  lateral  line  incomplete,  present  on  from  5  to  20  scales; 
scales  thin,  with  radiating  striae;  origin  of  dorsal  about  equidistant  from 
tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal;  adipose  fin  well  developed;  base  of 
caudal  with  normal  scales;  origin  of  anal  under  posterior  rays  of  dorsal, 
anteriorly  with  a  single  row  of  scales  at  base;  interhsemal  spines  of  the 
caudal  peduncle  not  projecting;  air  bladder  large,  its  walls  thin;  a  con- 
spicuous caudal  spot  usually  present. 

This  genus  is  closely  allied  to  Cheirodon  on  the  one  hand  and  to 
Odontostilbe  on  the  other  hand.  From  the  former  it  differs  in  the 
absence  of  the  protruding  interheemal  spines  on  caudal  peduncle  and 
from  the  latter  in  the  incomplete  lateral  line.  From  Contpsura  it 
differs  in  having  the  scaling  on  the  base  of  the  caudal  in  the  male 
normal. 

26.  Pseudocheirodon  affinis  sp.  nov. 

Cheirodon  insignis  (non  Steindachner)  Evermann  &  Goldsborough,  Proc. 

Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  98,  fig.  2  (Tabernilla,  Atlantic  slope, 

Panama  Canal  Zone). 
Cheirodon  insignis  Eigenmann,  Memoir.  Carnegie  Mus.,  VII,  1916,  69 

(in  part). 

Type  No.  8941,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  38  mm.;  Rio  Gatun,  Monte 
Liria,  Canal  Zone. 

Head  3.8  to  4.5;  depth  2.2  to  2.9;  D.  10  or  n;  A.  21  to  24  (rarely 
with  only  20  rays);  scales  31  to  33. 

Body  rather  short,  compressed;  profile  straight  over  eyes,  elevated  at 
nape;  head  small;  snout  blunt,  4  to  4.5  in  head;  eye  2.6  to  3;  interorbital 


276    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

2.3  to  2.9;  mouth  small;  jaws  subequal;  maxillary  reaching  anterior 
margin  of  eye;  premaxillary  teeth  usually  10  in  number,  each  with 
about  6  cusps,  the  middle  ones  slightly  larger  than  the  outer  ones, 
making  the  margins  round;  maxillary  with  2  or  3  teeth  similar 
to  those  of  premaxillary;  teeth  in  lower  jaw  usually  12  in  number, 
close  together,  the  expanded  tips  slightly  overlapping,  each  with 
about  6  cusps  of  nearly  equal  size,  their  margins  straight,  trans- 
verse; lateral  line  incomplete,  present  on  from  8  to  12  scales  (present 
on  20  scales  in  one  specimen);  scales  thin,  striate,  10  to  12  in  ad- 
vance of  dorsal,  9  or  10  rows  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  dorsal 


FIG.  3.     FRONT  TEETH  OF  Pstudochnrodon  affinis  gen.  etsp.  nov.  (After  Cheirodon  insignis 
(non  Steindachner)  Evennann&  Goldsborough.) 

fin  pointed,  the  anterior  rays  the  longest,  its  origin  midway  between 
tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal;  adipose  fin  over  last  rays  of  anal, 
notably  nearer  base  of  caudal  than  dorsal;  caudal  fin  forked,  the 
lower  lobe  the  longer;  origin  of  anal  under  last  rays  of  dorsal,  its  base 
not  quite  equal  to  depth  of  body;  ventral  fins  inserted  slightly  in 
advance  of  dorsal,  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  origin  of  anal;  pectoral 
fins  somewhat  longer  than  ventrals,  usually  not  quite  reaching  base 
of  the  latter. 

Color  plain  silvery,  with  a  faint  plumbeous  lateral  band;  a  very 
conspicuous,  black,  oval  caudal  spot,  not  extended  on  rays  of  caudal  fin. 
Head  and  body,  except  chest  and  abdomen,  with  dusky  punctulations. 
These  largest  above  base  of  anal.  Fins  with  dusky  points,  most 
numerous  on  the  anal  fin,  occupying  principally  the  interradial 
membranes. 

Numerous  specimens  were  preserved.  They  range  in  length  from 
35  to  55  mm.  Common  but  not  abundant  on  both  slopes  of  Panama. 
We  have  designated  as  the  type  a  male  specimen,  38  mm.  in  length, 
taken  in  the  Rio  Gatun,  Monte  Liria,  Canal  Zone. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     277 

21.  Genus  Gephyrocharax  Eigenmann. 

Gephyrocharax  Eigenmann,  Indiana  Univ.  Studies,  No.  16,  1912,  23 

(type  Gephyrocharax  choccensis  Eigenmann). 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  premaxillary  teeth  in  2  series,  the 
inner  with  8  to  10  teeth;  second  suborbital  covering  the  entire  cheek; 
lateral  line  complete;  dorsal  fin  inserted  posteriorly,  its  origin  nearer 
caudal  than  eye,  notably  behind  origin  of  anal;  adipose  fin  present;  the 
lower  fulcra  of  caudal  free,  forming  a  peculiar  spur  in  the  male;  pectorals 
long,  overlapping  the  ventrals. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.     The  outer  rays  of  caudal  fin  black;  no  distinct  shoulder  spot. 

atricaudata,  p.  277. 

aa.    The  outer  rays  of  caudal  without  black;  a  distinct  shoulder  spot 
present.  intermedius  sp.  nov.,p.  278. 

27.  Gephyrocharax  atricaudata  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 
Deuterodon  atricaudata  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  1912,  68  (Rio  Frijoles,  Panama  Canal  Zone). 
Gephyrocharax  atricaudata  Eigenmann,  Indiana  Univ.  Studies,  No.  20, 

1914,  41  (Panama  Canal  Zone). 

Head  3.7  to  4.5;  depth  2.8  to  3.8;  D.  9  or  10;  A.  26  to  33;  scales  37 
to  43. 

Body  elongate,  rather  strongly  compressed;  dorsal  profile  anteriorly 
straight  or  slightly  concave;  ventral  outline  strongly  convex;  abdomen 
round  in  advance  of  ventrals,  keeled  from  ventrals  to  vent;  head  com- 
pressed; snout  blunt,  3.4  to  4.75  in  head;  eye  2.6  to  3.44;  interorbital 
2.4  to  3.1;  mouth  small,  very  oblique;  the  lower  jaw  a  little  in  advance 
of  the  upper;  maxillary  reaching  slightly  past  anterior  margin  of  eye; 
second  suborbital  broad,  its  lower  posterior  angle  rounded;  premaxillary 
teeth  in  2  series,  the  outer  series  consisting  of  8  teeth,  each  with  3  to  5 
cusps;  the  inner  series  with  8  broad  teeth,  each  with  5  cusps,  the  middle 
cusp  much  enlarged;  maxillary  with  2  small  teeth;  lower  jaw  with  8 
large  teeth  and  abruptly  smaller  ones  at  sides;  gill-rakers  short,  about 
8  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  complete,  curved  downward 
anteriorly;  scales  striate,  20  to  23  in  median  series  in  advance  of  dorsal; 
6  complete  rows  between  lateral  line  and  base  of  dorsal;  the  rows  below 
lateral  line  abruptly  bent  downward  and  backward  toward  anal;  5 
scales  in  vertical  series  between  lateral  line  and  base  of  anterior  rays  of 
anal;  the  last  scales  on  lower  lobe  of  caudal  much  enlarged  in  males, 
with  a  hollow  space  or  pocket  underneath,  its  upper  edge  attached  to 


278    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

the  seventh  ray  of  the  caudal;  dorsal  fin  with  convex  margin,  inserted 
posteriorly,  its  origin  a  little  nearer  the  base  of  caudal  than  posterior 
margin  of  opercle;  adipose  fin  about  midway  between  base  of  last  ray 
of  dorsal  and  base  of  upper  ray  of  caudal;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower 
lobe  the  longer,  the  lower  fulcra  free,  forming  a  short  flat  spur  at  margin 
of  the  enlarged  scale  of  each  side;  anal  fin  rather  long,  its  origin  in  ad- 
vance of  dorsal,  midway  between  anterior  margin  of  eye  and  base  of 
caudal,  or  somewhat  nearer  the  latter;  ventral  fins  reaching  to  or  past 
origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  long,  inserted  notably  nearer  tip  of  snout 
than  original  of  anal. 

Color  pale  green  above,  with  a  dark  vertebral  band;  sides  silvery. 
A  faint  lateral  band  present  in  young,  scarcely  visible  in  adult;  an  in- 
distinct shoulder  spot  present.  Fins  reddish  yellow;  a  black  spot  or 
bar  at  base  of  caudal,  extended  to  tips  of  outer  rays  of  both  caudal  lobes. 

Numerous  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  in  length  from  30  to  60 
mm.,  were  preserved.  It  is  abundant  in  all  streams  visited  on  both 
slopes  of  Panama,  except  in  the  Rio  Chame  where  it  is  replaced  by  the 
closely  related  species,  G.  intermedius. 

Habitat:   Both  slopes  of  Panama. 

28.  Gephyrocharax  intermedius  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8945,  F.  M.  ,N.  H.;  length  58  mm.;  Rio  Chame, 
Panama. 

Head  4  to  4.5;  depth  3.1  to  3.55;  D.  9  or  10;  A.  26  to  31;  scales  39  to 

43- 

Body  elongate,  rather  strongly  compressed;  dorsal  profile  anteriorly 
straight  or  slightly  concave;  ventral  outline  strongly  convex;  abdomen 
round  in  advance  of  ventrals,  keeled  from  ventrals  to  vent;  head  com- 
pressed; snout  blunt,  3.7  to  5  in  head;  eye  2.6  to  3.4;  interorbital  2.5  to  3; 
mouth  small,  strongly  oblique;  the  lower  jaw  a  little  in  advance  of  the 
upper;  maxillary  reaching  slightly  past  anterior  margin  of  eye;  second 
suborbital  broad,  with  its  lower  posterior  angle  rather  sharp,  often 
forming  almost  a  right  angle;  teeth  as  in  preceding  species;  lateral  line 
complete,  curved  downward  anteriorly;  scales  striate,  1 8  to  20  in  median 
series  in  advance  of  dorsal;  5  or  6  complete  rows  between  lateral  line 
and  base  of  dorsal;  the  rows  below  lateral  line  abruptly  bent  downward 
and  backward  toward  the  base  of  anal,  5  scales  in  vertical  series  between 
lateral  line  and  base  of  anterior  rays  of  anal;  the  last  scale  on  lower  lobe 
of  caudal  much  enlarged  in  males,  with  a  hollow  space  or  pocket  under- 
neath, its  upper  edge  attached  to  the  seventh  ray  of  caudal;  dorsal  fin 
inserted  posteriorly,  its  origin  somewhat  nearer  base  of  caudal  than 
margin  of  opercle;  adipose  fin  about  midway  between  base  of  last  ray 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    279 

of  dorsal  and  base  of  upper  ray  of  caudal;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower 
lobe  the  longer,  its  lower  fulcra  free,  forming  a  flat  spur  at  margin  of  the 
enlarged  scale  of  each  side;  anal  fin  long,  its  origin  in  advance  of  dorsal, 
about  midway  between  anterior  margin  of  eye  and  base  of  caudal; 
ventral  fins  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  long, 
overlapping  the  ventrals,  inserted  notably  nearer  tip  of  snout  than  origin 
of  anal. 

Color  pale  green  above,  with  a  dark  vertebral  band;  sides  silvery. 
A  faint  silvery  lateral  band  usually  present;  a  distinct  shoulder  spot  or 
bar.  Fins  reddish  yellow;  a  large  oval  caudal  spot,  which  does  not 
extend  either  on  the  middle  or  the  outer  rays  of  the  caudal. 

Of  this  species  64  specimens,  ranging  from  30  to  60  mm.  in  length, 
were  preserved.  All  are  from  the  Rio  Chame,  the  only  place  where  it 
was  seen.  The  type  is  a  male,  58  mm.  in  length. 

This  species  is  closely  related  to  G.  atricaudata  and  G.  choccensis 
Eigenmann,  assuming  an  intermediate  relationship,  agreeing  more 
nearly  in  color  with  the  latter  and  in  structure  with  the  former.  From 
G.  atricaudata  it  is  easily  distinguished  by  the  oval  caudal  spot  which 
does  not  extend  on  the  outer  rays  of  the  caudal,  and  the  more  prominent 
shoulder  spot.  No  structural  differences  are  evident,  and  it  is  possible 
that  the  two  intergrade,  but  in  the  present  large  collection  this  is  not  the 
case.  From  G.  choccensis  it  differs  in  the  more  numerous  scales  between 
the  lateral  line  and  base  of  anal  (4  in  G.  choccensis,  6  in  the  present 
species),  and  the  rows  in  the  present  species  are  more  strongly  decurrent 
above  base  of  anal.  The  spur  on  lower  lobe  of  caudal  is  notably  shorter 
and  broader  in  G.  intermedius  and  the  ray  above  the  spur  is  flattened  and 
expanded,  while  in  the  former  it  is  normal. 

22.  Genus  Astyanax  Baird  &  Girard. 

SARDINAS. 
Astyanax  Baird  &  Girard,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1854  26,  and 

U.  S.  Mex.  Bound.  Survey,   1859,  74  (type  Astyanax  argentatus 

Baird  &  Girard). 
Pcecilurichthys  Gill,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  VI,  1858,  54  (type 

Pcecilurichthys  brevoortii  Gill). 

Body  more  or  less  elongate,  compressed,  depth  usually  more  than  2 
in  length;  second  suborbital  narrow,  leaving  a  naked  triangular  area 
below  suture  between  first  and  second  suborbitals;  premaxillaries  with 
2  series  of  teeth,  the  first  series  with  several  teeth  on  each  side,  the  second 
series  equal  or  graduated,  usually  10,  sometimes  8  in  number;  lower 
jaw  with  strong  teeth  anteriorly,  usually  abruptly  smaller,  conical  ones 


280    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

on  side;  maxillary  with  a  few  or  no  teeth;  gill-rakers  setiform;  lateral 
line  complete;  no  predorsal  spine;  caudal  naked. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.     Sides  with  a  dark,  plumbeous,  lateral  band,  darkest  and  most 

distinct  posteriorly,  sometimes  indistinctly  visible  on  caudal  fin; 

no  caudal  spot.     Reaching  a  length  of  150  mm.  fasciatus,  p.  280. 

aa.    Sides  with  a  plumbeous,  lateral  band,  ending  in  a  large,  well 

defined,  oval  caudal  spot.    Reaching  a  length  of  no  mm. 

ruberrimus,  p.  281. 
29.  Astyanax  fascia tus  (Cuvier). 

Chalceus  fasciatus  Cuvier,  Mem.  Mus.  Paris,  V,  1819,  352  (Brazil). 
Tetragonopterus  fasciatus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XX, 
1848,  149  (Rio  San  Francisco);  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V, 
1864,  322  (Brazil;  ?  West  Ecuador;  ?  Rio  Chisay;  ?  Mexico;  Guate- 
mala);  Vaillant,  Bull.  Mus.  d'Hist.  Nat.  Paris,  1897,  221  (?  Chagres). 
Tetragonopterus  fischeri  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien, 

XLI,   1879,  166,  PI.  I,  figs,  i  &  2  (Rio  Mamoni,  Panama). 
Tetragonopterus  panamensis  (non   Gunther)  Steindachner,  Denkschr. 
K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  XLI,  1879,  166,  PI.  I,  figs,  i  &  2  (Rio  Mamoni, 
Panama). 

Astyanax.  fasciatus  Fowler,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1906,  346  (Para). 
Astyanax  rutilus  Eigenmann  &  Ogle,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXIII, 

1907,  19  (Truando;  West  Coast  of  Central  America). 
Astyanax  grandis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 
Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1912,  67  (Rio  Juan  Diaz,  Panama). 
Head  3.55  to  4.35;  depth  2.35  to  2.6;  D.  10  or  u;  A.  25  to  27;  scales 
36  to  39. 

Body  deep,  compressed;  the  back  elevated;  head  small;  snout  coni- 
cal, 3.7  to  4.4  in  head;  eye  2.6  to  3.6;  interorbital  2.4  to  3;  mouth  small; 
jaws  subequal;  maxillary  to  or  slightly  past  anterior  margin  of  eye, 
slightly  longer  than  snout;  premaxillary  teeth  in  2  regular  series,  each 
with  8  teeth;  maxillary  with  2  small  teeth  near  its  juncture  with  the 
premaxillary;  lower  jaw  with  8  strong  teeth  anteriorly  and  abruptly 
smaller  ones  at  sides;  gill-rakers  short,  about  12  on  lower  limb  of  first 
arch;  lateral  line  complete,  very  slightly  decurved;  scales  rather  large, 
striate,  n  or  12  in  advance  of  dorsal,  9  to  n  between  dorsal  and  adipose, 
7  or  8  longitudinal  rows  between  anterior  rays  of  dorsal  and  lateral  line; 
dorsal  fin  inserted  a  little  nearer  tip  of  snout  than  base  of  caudal,  the 
anterior  rays  longest,  reaching  past  tips  of  posterior  rays;  adipose  fin 
about  one-third  as  far  from  base  of  upper  caudal  ray  as  from  base  of 
last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lobes  of  about  equal  length;  anal 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     281 

fin  rather  long,  its  origin  a  little  behind  base  of  last  dorsal  ray,  about 
midway  between  base  of  pectorals  and  base  of  caudal,  its  base  much 
longer  than  head;  ventral  fins  reaching  to  or  slightly  past  vent,  inserted 
midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  last  anal  ray;  pectoral  fins 
reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  base  of  ventrals,  inserted  about  midway 
between  tip  of  lower  jaw  and  base  of  ventrals. 

Color  silvery;  back  dark  green,  with  bluish  and  silvery  reflections; 
pale  silvery  below;  no  caudal  spot.  Sides  with  a  plumbeous  band, 
most  distinct  on  caudal  peduncle;  a  black  shoulder  spot  present  and 
sometimes  a  second  indistinct  spot  an  eye's  diameter  behind  the  first. 
Fins  plain  translucent  in  spirits.  Dorsal  and  pectorals  dark  green  in 
life;  other  fins  bright  red. 

This  species  is  represented  in  the  Panama  collection  by  522  speci- 
mens, ranging  in  length  from  60  to  150  mm.  It  occurs  only  in  the 
Pacific  slope  streams  in  Panama.  Apparently  one  of  the  later  migrants 
from  the  Atlantic  streams  of  Colombia. 

Habitat:  Western  slope  of  Central  America,  Panama,  Colombia, 
and  Ecuador,  and  the  eastern  slope  from  Para  to  Napo. 

30.  Astyanax  ruberrimus  Eigenmann. 

Tetragonopterus  panamensis  (non  Gunther)  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci. 

Phila.,  1876,  336  (Rio  Frijoles,  Atlantic  slope,  Panama). 
Astyanax,  fischeri  (non  Steindachner)  Eigenmann  &  Ogle,  Proc.  U.  S. 

Nat.  Mus.,  1907,  26  (Pacific  slope  of  Panama;  Rio  Frijoles;  Empire; 

Panama);   Evermann  &   Goldsborough,   Proc.   Biol.   Soc.   Wash., 

XXIII,  1910,  4  (Empire,  Canal  Zone). 
Astyanax  ruberrimus  Eigenmann,  Indiana  Univ.  Studies,  No.  18,  1913, 

25  (Istmina,  Atlantic  slope,  Colombia). 

Head  3.4  to  4.18;  depth  2.2  to  3.15;  D.  10  or  u;  A.  22  to  27;  scales 
34  to  38. 

Body  short,  compressed,  the  back  elevated;  head  small;  snout 
conical,  3.5  to  4.75  in  head;  eye  2.5  to  4.5;  interorbital  2.45  to  3.15; 
mouth  small;  jaws  subequal;  maxillary  reaching  slightly  past  anterior 
margin  of  eye,  scarcely  as  long  as  snout;  premaxillary  teeth  in  2  regular 
series,  each  series  with  8  teeth;  maxillary  with  2  small  teeth  near  its 
juncture  with  the  premaxillary;  lower  jaw  with  8  large  teeth  anteriorly, 
and  abruptly  smaller  ones  at  sides;  gill-rakers  short,  about  12  on  lower 
limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  complete,  slightly  decurved;  scales  rather 
large,  striate,  n  or  12  in  advance  of  dorsal,  9  to  n  between  dorsal  and 
adipose  fin,  6  or  7  longitudinal  rows  between  anterior  rays  of  dorsal  and 
lateral  line;  dorsal  fin  inserted  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base 
of  caudal,  the  anterior  rays  the  longest,  reaching  past  tips  of  posterior 


282    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

rays;  adipose  fin  about  half  as  far  from  base  of  upper  caudal  ray  as  from 
base  of  last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe  the  longer; 
anal  fin  rather  long,  its  origin  a  little  behind  base  of  last  dorsal  ray, 
slightly  nearer  base  of  caudal  than  base  of  pectorals,  its  base  notably 
longer  than  head;  ventral  fins  reaching  vent,  inserted  midway  between 
tip  of  snout  and  base  of  last  anal  ray;  pectoral  fins  usually  reaching 
nearly  or  quite  to  base  of  ventrals,  inserted  midway  between  tip  of 
lower  jaw  and  base  of  ventrals. 

Color  silvery,  sides  with  an  ill-defined  plumbeous  band.  A  spot  or 
short  bar  at  shoulder,  occasionally  a  second  faint  one  an  eye's  diameter 
behind  the  first.  Base  of  caudal  with  a  well  defined  black  oval  spot,  a 
little  longer  than  deep,  only  slightly  extended  on  base  of  caudal  rays. 
Fins  mostly  bright  red  in  life. 

The  most  abundant  species  of  all  the  fishes  of  Panama,  occurring 
in  large  numbers  from  the  lowland  waters  up  to  the  highest  mountain 
streams,  on  both  slopes  of  Panama.  Our  collection  contains  numerous 
specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  35  to  no  mm. 

The  Pacific  slope  representatives  average  somewhat  larger  in  size 
and  their  average  depth  is  proportionately  greater.  The  average  depth 
in  length  for  38  specimens  from  various  localities  on  the  Pacific  slope 
and  of  various  sizes  is  2.48.  In  a  similar  series  from  the  Atlantic  slope 
the  average  depth  is  2.67. 

Steindachner's  name,  fischeri,  has  long  been  used  for  this  species,  but 
his  figures  strongly  indicate  that  he  did  not  have  this  species,  but 
A.  fasciatus,  as  no  caudal  spot  is  indicated.  The  caudal  spot  is  so 
conspicuous  in  the  present  species  that  it  could  scarcely  have  been 
overlooked.  There  is  also  nothing  in  Steindachner's  description  that 
indicates  that  it  was  not  the  latter  species  which  he  had.  The  only 
name  that  is  then  available  is  A.  ruberrimus  Eigenmann,  of  which  we 
have  that  author's  specimens  from  Colombia  for  comparison  and  find 
them  to  be  identical  with  the  Panama  material. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama  and  both  slopes  of  Colombia. 

23.  Genus  Bryconamericus  Eigenmann. 

Bryconamericus  Eigenmann,  Ann.  Carnegie  Mus.,  IV,  1907,  139  (type 

Bryconamericus  exodon  Eigenmann). 

Very  similar  to  Astyanax.  Lateral  line  complete;  caudal  naked; 
second  suborbital  expanded,  in  contact  with  the  lower  limb  of  pre- 
opercle,  and  not  leaving  a  naked  triangle  below  suture  between  the  first 
and  second  suborbitals.  First  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  more  or  less 
irregularly  placed. 


DEC.  28, 1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     283 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES. 

a.  Scales  regularly  placed,  in  35  to  41  oblique  series  from  upper 
angle  of  gill-opening  to  base  of  caudal;  n  to  13  scales  in  advance 
of  dorsal;  10  or  n  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  7  complete, 
longitudinal  rows  between  lateral  line  and  base  of  dorsal.  Color 
silvery,  with  a  plumbeous  lateral  band.  Breeding  males  with- 
out tubercles  on  head  and  margin  of  scales;  fins  nearly  smooth. 

emperador, p.  283. 

aa.  Scales  more  or  less  irregularly  placed,  in  40  to  48  oblique  series 
from  upper  angle  of  gill-opening  to  base  of  caudal;  12  to  15 
scales  in  advance  of  dorsal;  12  to  14  between  dorsal  and  adipose; 
8  complete  longitudinal  rows  between  lateral  line  and  base  of 
dorsal.  Color  dark  silvery,  lateral  band  very  dark  posteriorly. 
Breeding  males  with  small  tubercles  on  head  and  margin  of 
scales;  the  fins  with  barbs,  very  rough  to  the  touch. 

cascajalensis  sp.  nov.,  p.  284. 

31.  Bryconamericus  emperador  (Eigenmann  &  Ogle). 

Astyanax  emperador  Eigenmann  &  Ogle,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., XXXIII, 

1907,  26  (Empire,  Panama  Canal  Zone). 
Bryconamericus  emperador  Eigenmann,  Indiana  Univ.  Studies,  No.  18, 

Pt.  II,  1913,  ii. 

Head  3.05  to 4;  depth  2. 5  to 3;  D.  loom;  A.  24 to  29;  scales 35  to 41. 

Body  rather  deep,  compressed,  the  back  elevated;  head  small; 
snout  conical,  3.8  to  4.8  in  head;  eye  2.5  to  2.85;  interorbital  2.75  to  3; 
mouth  small;  jaws  subequal;  maxillary  reaching  anterior  margin  of 
pupil,  slightly  longer  than  snout;  premaxillary  teeth  in  2  series,  the 
outer  series  irregular,  with  10  teeth,  the  inner  series  regular  with  8  to 

10  teeth;  maxillary  with  2  small  teeth  near  its  juncture  with  the  pre- 
maxillary; lower  jaw  with  8  large  teeth  anteriorly  and  abruptly  smaller 
ones  at  sides;  gill-rakers  short,  about  12  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch; 
lateral  line  complete,  moderately  decurved;  scales  moderate,  striate, 

11  to  13  in  advance  of  dorsal,  10  or  n  between  dorsal  and  adipose,  7 
or  8  longitudinal  rows  between  anterior  dorsal  rays  and  lateral  line; 
dorsal  fin  inserted  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal; 
adipose  fin  about  one-third  as  far  from  base  of  upper  caudal  ray  as 
from  base  of  last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe  the  longer; 
anal  fin  rather  long,  its  origin  a  little  behind  base  of  last  dorsal  ray,  about 
midway  between  base  of  pectorals  and  base  of  caudal;  ventral  fins  reach- 
ing to  or  slightly  past  vent,  inserted  midway  between  tip  of  snout 
and  base  of  last  anal  ray;  pectoral  fins  usually  reaching  to  base  of  ven- 
trals,  inserted  midway  between  tip  of  lower  jaw  and  base  of  ventrals. 


284    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Color  silvery;  sides  with  a  plumbeous  lateral  band,  ending  in  a 
large,  black,  caudal  spot,  which  is  slightly  longer  than  deep  and  extended 
only  slightly  on  base  of  caudal.  An  ill-defined  shoulder  spot  present. 

This  species  is  represented  in  the  Panama  collection  by  numerous 
specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  45  to  90  mm.  It  occurs  on  both 
slopes  of  Panama,  and  is  always  found  in  company  with  Astyanax 
ruberrimus,  but  much  less  abundant,  except  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin 
where  it  outnumbers  the  latter. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama. 

32.  Bryconamericus  cascajalensis  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8946,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  92  mm.;  Rio  Cascajal,  Porto 
Bello,  Panama. 

Head  3.8  to  4;  depth  2.6  to  2.95;  D.  10  or  n;  A.  26  to  29;  scales  40 
to  48. 

Body  moderately  elongate,  compressed;  the  back  elevated;  head 
small;  snout  conical,  3.4  to  4.25  in  head;  eye  2.6  to  3;  interorbital  2.6  to 
3;  mouth  small;  jaws  subequal;  maxillary  reaching  to  or  slightly  past 
anterior  margin  of  pupil,  a  little  longer  than  snout;  premaxillary  teeth 
in  2  series,  the  outer  series  irregular,  with  10  teeth,  the  inner  series 
regular,  with  8  teeth;  maxillary  with  2  small  teeth  near  its  juncture  with 
the  premaxillary;  lower  jaw  with  8  strong  teeth  anteriorly  and  abrubtly 
smaller  ones  at  sides;  gill-rakers  short,  about  12  on  lower  limb  of  first 
arch;  lateral  line  complete,  slightly  decurved;  scales  rather  small,  feebly 
striate,  12  to  15  in  advance  of  dorsal,  12  to  14  between  dorsal  and 
adipose,  8  longitudinal  rows  between  lateral  line  and  anterior  dorsal 
rays;  dorsal  fin  inserted  about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of 
caudal;  adipose  fin  only  a  little  more  than  half  as  far  from  base  of  upper 
caudal  ray  as  base  of  last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe 
the  larger;  anal  fin  rather  long,  its  origin  slightly  behind  base  of  last 
dorsal  ray,  a  little  nearer  origin  of  pectorals  than  base  of  caudal;  ventral 
fins  reaching  to  or  slightly  past  vent,  inserted  a  little  nearer  tip  of  snout 
than  base  of  last  anal  ray;  pectoral  fins  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  base 
of  ventrals,  inserted  a  little  nearer  base  of  ventrals  than  tip  of  snout. 

Color  silvery;  the  back  dark  green;  sides  with  a  plumbeous  band, 
which  becomes  almost  black  posteriorly,  especially  in  the  males.  An 
elongate  caudal  spot  present,  somewhat  extended  on  base  of  caudal 
rays.  Breeding  males  with  small  bluish  tubercles  on  head  and  margin 
of  scales.  An  obscure  humeral  spot  present.  Fins  in  breeding  males 
with  barbs,  making  them  rough  to  the  touch. 

Of  this  species  the  present  collection  contains  38  specimens,  ranging 
in  length  from  60  to  95  mm.  All  were  taken  a  little  above  tide  water  in 


co  a 

Tf.    « 


UJ  en 

5  <s 

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o  S 

O  fc 


5  e 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  or  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    285 

the  Rio  Cascajal,  a  small  coastal  stream,  at  Porto  Bello,  on  April  24; 
nearly  all  are  gravid  fish. 

This  species  differs  from  the  preceding  in  the  smaller  scales,  in 
the  somewhat  darker  coloration,  principally  in  the  darker  lateral  band 
and  in  that  the  breeding  male  has  numerous  small  tubercles  on  head 
and  margin  of  scales  and  very  rough  fins. 


24.  Genus  Hemibrycon  Giinther. 

Hemibrycon  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V,  1864,  318  (type  Hemi- 
brycon polyodon  Gunther). 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  head  short;  maxillary  extending  nearly 
or  quite  to  middle  of  eye;  cheeks  nearly  entirely  covered  by  the  first 
and  second  suborbitals,  leaving  only  a  narrow  naked  margin  behind; 
premaxillary  teeth  in  2  series,  the  inner  series  with  4+4  or  5+5  teeth; 
maxillary  in  the  adult  with  from  5  to  25  teeth,  these  in  part  at  least 
tricuspid,  teeth  along  half  or  more  of  its  free  margin;  lower  jaw  with  from 
4+4  to  6+6  strong  teeth  anteriorly  and  with  gradually  or  abruptly 
smaller  teeth  at  sides;  lateral  line  complete;  scales  cycloid;  caudal 
naked;  middle  caudal  rays  black. 

Closely  related  to  Bryconamericus,  but  with  more  teeth  on  the 
maxillary,  at  least  in  the  adult,  and  with  the  inner  caudal  rays 
black. 

33.  Hemibrycon  dariensis  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8947,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  65  mm.;  Rio  Yape,  Rio 
Tuyra  Basin,  Panama. 

Head  3.45  to  4.5;  depth  2.4  to  3.55;  D.  9  or  10;  A.  27  to  29,  rarely 
30;  scales  8-38  to  41-6. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  profile  straight  or  gently  convex  over 
eyes,  elevated  at  nape;  head  short;  snout  blunt,  4  to  5  in  head;  eye  2.6 
to  3.25;  interorbital  2.8  to  3.15;  mouth  moderate;  jaws  subequal;  maxil- 
lary reaching  nearly  to  opposite  middle  of  eye;  premaxillary  teeth  in  2 
series,  the  outer  series  irregular,  the  last  tooth  on  each  side  and  the 
2  anterior  teeth  placed  further  outward,  the  second  series  with  8  larger 
teeth,  each  tooth  with  4  to  5  cusps,  one  of  them  considerably  enlarged; 
maxillary  with  from  6  to  10  teeth,  similar  to  second  premaxillary  series, 
but  larger,  abruptly  smaller  ones  at  sides,  these  about  10  in  number; 
gill-rakers  short,  10  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  complete, 
decurrent,  the  pores  on  anterior  3  to  6  scales  usually  poorly  developed; 
scales  thin,  striate,  14  to  16  rows  in  advance  of  dorsal,  9  to  n  rows 
between  dorsal  and  adipose,  the  longitudinal  rows  above  and  in  advance 


286    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

of  anal  decurrent,  with  several  interpolated  rows;  origin  of  dorsal  fin 
about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal;  adipose  fin  well 
developed,  over  posterior  fifth  of  anal,  a  little  nearer  base  of  caudal  than 
base  of  last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lobes  of  about  equal  length; 
anal  fin  rather  long,  its  base  2.8  to  3.25  in  length  of  body,  its  origin 
under  posterior  rays  of  dorsal,  midway  between  posterior  margin  of 
eye  and  base  of  caudal;  ventral  fins  scarcely  reaching  origin  of  anal, 
inserted  an  eye's  diameter  nearer  tip  of  snout  than  base  of  last  anal 
ray;  pectoral  fins  reaching  to  or  slightly  past  base  of  ventrals,  only 
slightly  shorter  than  head. 

Color  silvery;  sides  with  a  plumbeous  lateral  band,  darkest  poste- 
riorly; faint  humeral  and  opercular  spots  present;  a  black  band  extend- 
ing from  base  of  caudal  to  tips  of  middle  caudal  rays. 

Of  this  species  there  are  66  specimens,  ranging  from  40  to  80  mm.  in 
length,  in  the  present  collection.  All  were  taken  in  the  Rio  Tuyra 
Basin.  We  have  designated  as  the  type  a  specimen,  65  mm.  in  length, 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Yape. 

Considerable  variation  in  the  depth  of  the  body  and  the  number  of 
teeth  on  the  maxillary  is  apparent  among  our  specimens,  but  these 
appear  to  be  only  individual  variations. 

This  species  differs  from  H.  decurrens  (Eigenmann),  of  which  we  have 
examined  a  paratype,  in  the  fewer  scales  in  the  lateral  line,  in  the  slightly 
shorter  and  more  posteriorly  placed  anal.  In  H.  decurrens  there  are  44 
scales  in  the  lateral  line,  31  to  33  anal  rays  and  the  origin  of  the  anal 
is  in  front  of  the  middle  of  base  of  dorsal.  This  species  is  also  closely 
related  to  H.  guppii  (Regan)  from  which  it  apparently  differs  in  having 
one  more  row  of  scales  between  the  lateral  line  and  base  of  dorsal,  also 
one  more  row  between  base  of  anal  and  lateral  line;  the  rows  of  scales 
in  H.  guppii  above  and  in  advance  of  anal  are  less  strongly  decurrent 
and  the  interpolated  rows  are  fewer. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  Basin,  Panama. 

25.  Genus  Hyphessobrycon  Durbin. 

Hyphessobrycon  Durbin,  in  Eigenmann,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  LII, 

1908,  100  (type  Hemigrammus  compressus  Meek). 
Dermatocheir  Durbin,  Ann.  Carnegie  Mus.,  1909,  55  (type  Dermatocheir 

catablepta  Durbin). 

Body  short,  compressed,  the  back  elevated;  head  short;  premaxillary 
teeth  in  2  series;  maxillary  teeth,  if  present,  crowded  on  the  upper 
anterior  angle;  lateral  line  incomplete;  caudal  fin  naked;  the  lobes  equal 
or  subequal. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    287 

34.  Hyphessobrycon  panamensis  Durbin. 

Hyphessobrycon  panamensis  Durbin,  in  Eigenmann,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp. 

Zool.,  LII,  1908,  101  (Rio  Boqueron,  Atlantic  slope,  Panama). 
Hemigrammus  minutus  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.   Nat.   Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1912,  67  (Agua  Clara,  Panama). 

Head  3.43  to  3.8;  depth  2.4  to  2.85;  D.  n;  A.  22  to  25;  scales  7-32 
to  36-6. 

Body  short,  compressed;  profile  straight  over  eyes,  elevated  from 
nape  to  dorsal;  head  short;  snout  blunt,  3.15  to  4.8  in  head;  eye  2  to 
2.65 ;  interorbital  3  to  4.4;  mouth  rather  small;  jaws  subequal;  maxillary 
reaching  anterior  margin  of  pupil;  premaxillary  teeth  in  2  series,  the 
first  series  with  6  tricuspid  teeth;  the  inner  series  with  10  teeth,  each  with 
3  or  4  cusps,  one  of  the  cusps  considerably  enlarged;  maxillary  with  3 
small  teeth  on  the  upper  anterior  angle;  teeth  in  lower  jaw  in  a  single 
series,  8  large  ones  anteriorly,  similar  to  the  second  series  of  premaxillary 
teeth  but  larger,  and  abruptly  smaller  ones  at  sides;  gill-rakers  short, 
about  10  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  present  on  8  to  13  scales; 
scales  thin,  striate,  10  to  12  in  advance  of  dorsal,  7  to  9  between  dorsal 
and  adipose,  1 2  longitudinal  rows  between  base  of  dorsal  and  base  of 
ventral;  origin  of  dorsal  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal; 
adipose  fin  well  developed,  over  last  rays  of  anal;  caudal  fin  naked,  the 
lobes  of  about  equal  length;  anal  fin  slightly  emarginate,  its  origin  under 
last  ray  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  reaching  past  origin  of  anal,  inserted 
midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  last  anal  ray;  pectoral  fins 
reaching  past  base  of  ventrals,  a  little  shorter  than  head. 

Color  silvery ;  sides  with  a  dark  line  at  least  posteriorly ;  no  caudal  spot ; 
one  and  sometimes  two  faint  shoulder  spots  present.  Scales  and  fins 
with  dusky  points;  tip  of  anal  and  anterior  dorsal  ray  sometimes  black. 

This  species  is  represented  by  140  specimens  in  the  present  collection, 
ranging  in  length  from  30  to  50  mm.  These  were  taken  only  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  Rio  Chagres  Basin.  Although  the  type  is  listed  from 
the  Rio  Boqueron,  one  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Rio  Chagres,  we 
did  not  get  it  there  during  several  days  fishing. 

Habitat:  Rio  Chagres  Basin,  Panama. 

26.  Genus  Thoracocharax  Fowler. 

Thoracocharax  Fowler,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,   1906,  452   (type 

Gasteropelecus  stellatus  Kner). 

Body  strongly  compressed,  the  thoracic  region  dilated  into  a  semicircu- 
lar disc;  abdomen  compressed  into  a  sharp  keel;  dorsal  profile  anteriorly 
slightly  convex;  teeth  tricuspid  or  conical,  in  2  series  on  premaxillary; 


288    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

maxillary  with  a  few  small  teeth  on  its  edge;  mandible  with  a  single 
series;  lateral  line  incomplete,  directed  downward  and  backward;  dorsal 
inserted  far  back;  pectorals  large;  ventrals  very  small;  adipose  present. 

35.  Thoracocharax  macula tus  (Steindachner).    Paribiba. 
Gasteropelecus  maculatus  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien, 

XLI,  1879,   1 68  (Rio  Mamoni,  Chepo,  Panama);  Jordan  &  Ever- 

mann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.   Mus.,   XLVII,    1896,   338;   Regan,   Biol. 

Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1908,  173. 

Head 3. 35 to 4; depth  i. 7  to  1.9;  D.  ioorii;A.  33  to 36; scales 3oto 35. 

Body  deep,  strongly  compressed;  the  dorsal  profile  straight  over 
eyes,  but  slightly  convex  from  nape  to  dorsal;  the  thoracic  region  much 
dilated,  the  abdomen  with  a  sharp  keel;  head  small,  flat  above;  snout 
blunt,  3.4  to  4  in  head;  eye  3.1  to  4;  interorbital  2.1  to  2.45;  mouth  small, 
nearly  vertical;  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  reaching  anterior  margin 
of  eye;  premaxillary  teeth  in  2  series,  the  outer  series  consisting  of  only 
2  conical  teeth,  near  tip  of  jaw,  the  second  series  with  10  tricuspid  teeth; 
maxillary  with  4  or  5  pointed  teeth  on  its  edge;  lower  jaw  with  a  single 
series,  anteriorly  with  8  tricuspid  teeth  and  abruptly  smaller  ones  at 
sides;  gill-rakers  poorly  developed;  lateral  line  incomplete,  directed 
downward  and  backward  toward  about  the  third  ray  of  anal,  failing  to 
reach  base  of  anal  by  from  3  to  6  scales;  scales  large  along  side,  reduced 
on  abdomen  and  above  base  of  anal,  the  rows  directed  downward  and 
backward  on  lower  part  of  side;  dorsal  fin  small,  its  origin  notably  behind 
origin  of  anal,  about  midway  between  margin  of  preopercle  and  tip  of 
caudal;  adipose  fin  small,  just  behind  vertical  from  base  of  last  anal 
ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lobes  subequal;  anal  fin  rather  long,  its  base 
equal  to  depth  of  body  at  origin  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  not  much  longer 
than  pupil,  inserted  just  in  front  of  vent;  pectoral  fins  large,  reaching 
beyond  origin  of  anal,  2  to  2.25  in  length  of  body. 

Color  silvery,  darker  above;  sides  sometimes  with  a  faint  plumbeous 
band;  no  caudal  spot.  Chromatophores  on  scales  so  arranged  as  to  form 
dotted  vertical  lines  on  sides;  abdominal  keel  dusky.  Fins  unmarked. 

Of  this  species  there  are  at  hand  nearly  300  specimens,  ranging  in 
length  from  42  to  92  mm.  These  were  taken  near  Chorrera,  Panama, 
and  in  the  Rio  Bayano  and  Rio  Tuyra  basins. 

We  have  for  comparison  specimens  of  T.  brevis  Eigenmann,  from 
Raspadura,  Atrato  Basin,  Colombia.  This  is  certainly  a  very  closely 
related  species,  if  in  fact  distinct.  The  two  seem  to  intergrade,  but  T. 
brevis  averages  fewer  scales  in  the  lateral  series  and  the  average  depth  is 
slightly  greater. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  Panama. 


2  E 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    289 

27.  Genus  Creagrutus  Gunther. 

Creagrutus  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V,  1864,  339  (type  Leporinus 

mulleri  Gunther). 

Body  elongate,  not  strongly  compressed;  abdomen  rounded;  head 
rather  low;  second  suborbital  large,  covering  nearly  the  entire  cheek; 
premaxillary  teeth  in  3  series;  maxillary  with  from  i  to  4  teeth;  mandible 
with  a  single  series  of  teeth,  the  anterior  ones  enlarged;  gill-membranes 
free  from  the  isthmus;  lateral  line  complete;  anal  fin  short,  of  not  more 
than  17  rays.  Species  small. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Depth  of  body  3.6  to  4.3;  upper  jaw  little  projecting;  none  of  the 
premaxillary  teeth  exposed  when  mouth  is  closed;  n  or  12  gill- 
rakers  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch.  notropoides,  p.  289. 

aa.  Depth  of  body  3.1  to  3.7;  upper  jaw  strongly  projecting;  most 
of  the  first  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  exposed  when  mouth  is 
closed;  7  to  9  gill-rakers  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch,  simus,  p.  290. 

36.  Creagrutus  notropoides  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Astyanax  mexicanus  (non  Filippi)  Evermann  &  Goldsborough,  Proc. 

Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  4  (Canal  Zone,  Panama). 
Creagrutus  notropoides  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1912,  68  (Rio  Indio,  upper  tributary  of  Rio  Chagres). 
Creagrutus  affinis  (in  part)  Eigenmann,  Indiana  Univ.  Studies,  No.  18, 

1913,  7  (Rio  Chagres;  Puerto  Negria;  Istmina;  Boca  de  Raspadura). 

Head  3.6  to  3.95 ;  depth  3.6  to  4.3 ;  D.  10;  A.  14  to  16 ;  scales  5-  34  to  38-4. 

Body  elongate,  not  strongly  compressed  anteriorly;  caudal  peduncle 
rather  strongly  compressed,  its  depth  2.1  to  2.5  in  head;  dorsal  region 
little  elevated;  head  low,  rather  wide;  snout  blunt  3.65  to  4.6  in  head; 
eye  2.6  to  3;  interorbital  2.8  to  3.25;  mouth  small;  upper  jaw  but  little 
in  advance  of  the  lower;  maxillary-premaxillary  border  rather 
strongly  curved;  maxillary  reaching  anterior  margin  of  pupil;  premaxil- 
lary teeth  all  covered  by  the  lower  lip  when  mouth  is  closed,  the  series 
irregular;  maxillary  with  3  or  4  small  teeth;  lower  jaw  with  8  large  teeth 
anteriorly  and  about  4  smaller  ones  at  each  side;  teeth  in  the  young 
pointed  or  cricuspid,  very  blunt  or  even  paved  in  adult;  gill-rakers 
moderate,  n  or  12  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales  striate,  8  or  9 
before  dorsal,  9  or  10  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  9  or  10  longitudinal 
rows  between  base  of  dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  origin  of  dorsal  over  base 
of  ventrals,  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  tip  of  adipose,  or  slightly 
nearer  the  latter;  adipose  fin  well  developed,  just  behind  vertical  from 


290    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

base  of  last  ray  of  anal;  caudal  fin  naked,  the  lobes  subequal;  anal  fin 
rather  small,  its  origin  a  little  behind  last  ray  of  dorsal,  about  midway 
between  preopercular  margin  and  base  of  caudal;  ventral  fins  reaching 
to  or  slightly  past  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  reaching  base  of  ventrals, 
about  as  long  as  head  without  snout. 

Color  silvery;  sides  with  a  plumbeous  lateral  band;  a  distinct  shoulder 
spot  present;  caudal  spot  wanting;  fins  unmarked. 

There  are  148  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  35  to  80  mm.,  in 
the  present  collection.  All  are  from  the  Rio  Chagres  and  its  tributaries. 
Inhabiting  upland  streams  where  the  current  is  swift. 

We  have  compared  our  specimens  with  specimens  of  C.  affinis 
Steindachner,  identified  by  Dr.  Eigenmann,  from  Colombia  and  Ecua- 
dor. We  have  also  examined  a  number  of  the  paratypes  of  C.  magda- 
len&  Eigenmann,  and  find  that  our  specimens  differ  from  both  in  having 
i  or  2  more  rows  of  scales  between  the  base  of  dorsal  and  base  of  anal. 
Our  specimens  are  also  more  slender  and  the  upper  jaw  projects  less 
strongly. 

Habitat:  Rio  Chagres  Basin,  Panama. 

37.  Creagrutus  simus  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Creagrutus  simus  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.   Ser.,   X,    1913,   85    (Rio    Cupe,    tributary    of   Rio    Tuyra, 

Cituro,  Panama). 

Head  3. 5  to  4;  depth  3.1  to  3. 7;  D.  10;  A.  I4toi6;  scales  5-34  to  36-4. 

Body  elongate,  moderately  compressed;  caudal  peduncle  strongly 
compressed,  its  depth  2  to  2.4  in  head;  dorsal  region  little  elevated;  snout 
blunt,  3.5  to  4  in  head;  eye  2.45  to  3.13;  interorbital  2.9  to  3;  upper  jaw 
notably  projecting;  maxillary-premaxillary  border  strongly  curved; 
maxillary  reaching  slightly  past  anterior  margin  of  pupil;  outer  series 
of  premaxillary  teeth  anteriorly  in  advance  of  the  lower  lip,  exposed 
when  the  mouth  is  closed;  maxillary  with  2  or  3  small  teeth;  lower  jaw 
with  8  large  teeth  anteriorly  and  3  to  5  smaller  ones  at  sides;  teeth  in  the 
young  tricuspid  or  pointed,  blunt  in  the  adult;  gill-rakers  short,  7  to  9 
on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales  striate,  9  or  10  before  dorsal,  7  to  9 
between  dorsal  and  adipose,  9  or  10  longitudinal  series  between  base  of 
dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  origin  of  dorsal  over  base  of  ventrals,  a  little 
nearer  tip  of  adipose  than  tip  of  snout,  adipose  fin  well  developed,  over 
base  of  last  anal  ray;  caudal  fin  naked,  the  lobes  subequal;  anal  fin 
rather  small,  its  origin  just  behind  last  ray  of  dorsal,  about  midway 
between  margin  of  opercle  and  base  of  caudal;  ventral  fins  usually 
reaching  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  usually  not  quite  reaching  base  of 
ventrals,  slightly  longer  than  head  without  snout. 


DEC.  28,1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     291 

Color  silvery;  sides  with  a  plumbeous  lateral  band;  a  distinct 
shoulder  spot  present;  no  caudal  spot;  fins  unmarked. 

The  present  collection  contains  over  400  specimens  of  this  species, 
ranging  in  length  from  30  to  70  mm.  All  are  from  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 
Inhabiting  upland  streams  where  the  current  is  swift. 

This  species  is  evidently  very  closely  related  to  C.  affinis  Stein- 
dachner,  from  which  it,  however,  differs  in  having  i  or  2  more  longi- 
tudinal rows  of  scales  between  the  base  of  dorsal  and  base  of  anal. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  Basin,  Panama. 

28.  Genus  Roeboides  Giinther. 
ANCHOVATA  OR  ANCHOBETA. 

Rceboides  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V,  1864,  347  (type  Anacyrtus 

microlepis  Reinhardt). 

Body  elongate,  ventral  region  rounded;  teeth  mostly  pointed,  in  2 
or  more  series,  present  on  maxillary,  premaxillaries  and  mandible;  gill- 
openings  wide,  the  membranes  separate,  free  from  the  isthmus;  gill- 
rakers  slender;  shoulder  girdle  with  a  large  spine;  lateral  line  straight, 
complete;  anal  fin  very  long;  adipose  fin  well  developed. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Scales  in  lateral  line  82  to  89,  rarely  with  80  or  81;  gill-rakers 
short,  8  or  9  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  origin  of  dorsal  notably 
nearer  tip  of  snout  than  base  of  caudal;  origin  of  anal  nearer  tip 
of  snout  than  base  of  last  ray  of  anal;  no  black  blotch  behind  the 
obscure  spot  at  upper  angle  of  gill-opening;  a  black  longitudinal 
bar  in  lateral  band  under  base  of  dorsal  usually  present. 

guatemalensis,  p.  291. 

aa.  Scales  in  lateral  line  72  to  80;  gill-rakers  longer,  10  to  n  on  lower 
limb  of  first  arch;  origin  of  dorsal  about  midway  between  tip  of 
snout  and  base  of  caudal;  origin  of  anal  midway  between  tip  of 
snout  and  base  of  last  anal  ray;  a  large  black  blotch  an  eye's 
diameter  behind  the  obscure  spot  at  upper  angle  of  gill-opening. 

occidentalis  sp.  nov.,  p.  293. 

38.  Roeboides  guatemalensis  (Gunther). 

Anacyrtus  (Rceboides)  guatemalensis  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V, 

1864,  347  (Rio  Chagres;  Huamuchal;  Lake  Nicaragua);  Vaillant, 

Bull.  Mus.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  1897,  221  (Rio  Chagres). 
Cynopotamus  guatemalensis  Garman,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XII,  1890,  13 

(Rio  Chagres). 


2g  2    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Rcestes  guatemalensis  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XIV,  1891,  56. 
Rceboides  guatemalensis  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XIV,  1891,  57;  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 

1896, 338;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1908, 174  (Rio  Chagres); 

Evermann  &  Goldsborough,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909, 

10 1    (Rio   Boqueron;   Tabernilla,   Atlantic  slope,   Panama   Canal 

Zone). 

Head  3.75  to  4.2;  depth  2.65  to  2.95;  D.  u;  A.  47  to  52;  scales  82  to 
89,  rarely  80  or  81. 

Body  deep,  strongly  compressed;  the  dorsal  region  elevated;  profile 
deeply  concave  over  eyes  in  adult,  less  so  in  young;  head  small;  snout 
blunt,  3.34  to  4.5  in  head;  eye  3.1  to  3.8;  interorbital  3.4  to  4.1;  mouth 
large;  upper  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  reaching  posterior  margin  of 
pupil,  1.85  to  2.25  in  head;  premaxillary  teeth  in  3  more  or  less  irregular 
series;  the  first  series  composed  of  4  conical  teeth  on  outer  edge  pointed 
directly  outward,  horn-like;  the  second  series  with  pointed  teeth,  the 
anterior  ones  in  advance  of  lower  lip;  the  third  series  composed  of  tri- 
cuspid  teeth;  maxillary  with  about  6  small  teeth  on  its  inner  anterior 
angle  and  with  from  5  to  8  blunt  teeth  on  its  outer  margin;  lower  jaw 
with  2  series,  the  first  series  with  2  conical  teeth  on  outer  margin  pointed 
directly  forward,  the  second  series  anteriorly  with  4  tricuspid  teeth, 
then  with  2  or  3  smaller  conical  teeth  at  each  side,  then  a  larger  tricuspid 
tooth,  this  one  followed  by  several  minute,  conical  teeth;  gill-rakers 
rather  short,  8  or  9  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  shoulder  girdle  with  a 
sharp  spine,  reaching  base  of  pectorals;  lateral  line  complete,  straight; 
scales  small  and  thin;  dorsal  fin  elevated  anteriorly,  its  origin  a  little 
nearer  tip  of  adipose  than  tip  of  snout;  adipose  fin  well  developed,  over 
the  base  of  about  the  eighth  anal  ray  counting  from  the  last  ray  forward; 
caudal  fin  naked,  the  lower  lobe  the  larger;  anal  fin  very  long,  its  origin 
nearer  tip  of  snout  than  the  base  of  its  last  ray;  ventral  fins  reaching 
past  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  overlapping  the  ventrals,  not  much 
longer  than  the  latter. 

Color  greenish  brown  above,  silvery  below;  a  bright  silvery  lateral 
band  in  which  there  is  often  a  short  longitudinal  black  bar  under  base 
of  dorsal.  An  obscure  shoulder  spot  near  upper  angle  of  gill-opening 
usually  present;  a  large  black  caudal  spot;  pectorals  greenish  yellow; 
other  fins  greenish  at  base,  becoming  red  at  tips. 

Of  this  species  there  are  numerous  specimens  in  the  present  collec- 
tion, ranging  in  length  from  40  to  150  mm.  It  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
mon fishes  in  the  streams  of  the  Atlantic  slope  of  Panama,  occurring 
everywhere  from  brackish  water  upward  to  the  mountain  streams. 


f 

o 


Q    a 
O    e 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     293 

It  is  eaten  by  the  natives  who  fry  it  crisp  in  oil.   Prepared  in  this  way 
the  bones  and  flesh  are  eaten  together,  making  a  very  palatable  dish. 
Habitat:  Atlantic  slope  of  Panama  northward  to  Guatemala. 

39.  Roeboides  occidentalis  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8948,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  115  mm.;  Rio  Cardenas, 
Corozal,  Panama. 

Head  3. 35  to  4.1;  depth  2.35  to  2.9;  D.  n;  A.  44  to  50;  scales  72  to  80. 

Body  deep,  strongly  compressed;  the  dorsal  region  elevated;  profile 
deeply  concave  over  eyes  in  adult,  less  so  in  young;  head  small;  snout 
blunt,  3.5  to  4  in  head;  eye  3  to  3.9;  interorbital  3.45  to  3.9;  mouth  large; 
upper  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  reaching  posterior  margin  of  pupil, 
1.7  to  2.2  in  head;  teeth  as  in  preceding  species;  gill-rakers  moderate, 
10  or  ii  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  shoulder  girdle  with  a  long,  sharp 
spine  reaching  base  of  pectoral;  lateral  line  straight,  complete;  scales 
small  and  thin;  dorsal  fin  elevated  anteriorly,  its  origin  about  midway 
between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal  or  slightly  nearer  the  former; 
adipose  fin  well  developed,  over  about  the  seventh  ray  of  anal  counting 
from  the  last  ray  forward;  caudal  fin  naked,  the  lower  lobe  the  larger; 
anal  fin  very  long,  its  origin  about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and 
base  of  its  last  ray;  ventral  fins  reaching  past  origin  of  anal;  pectoral 
fins  overlapping  the  ventrals,  a  little  longer  than  the  latter. 

Color  greenish  above,  silvery  below;  with  bright  silvery  lateral 
band;  an  obscure  shoulder  spot  at  upper  angle  of  opercle;  a  larger  and 
more  distinct  black  spot  about  an  eye's  diameter  behind  the  first;  a 
black  caudal  spot  present.  Pectorals  greenish;  other  fins  greenish  at 
base,  reddish  at  tips. 

We  have  numerous  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  30  to  170  mm. 
It  is  common  in  all  the  Pacific  slope  streams  of  Panama,  from  the  head 
of  tide  water  up  to  the  mountain  streams. 

This  species  like  the  preceding  is  used  as  food. 

Habitat :  Pacific  slope  of  Panama  and  probably  southward  to  Colombia 
and  Ecuador. 

29.  Genus  Brycon  M  tiller  &  Troschel. 
PIPON;  SARDINA. 

Brycon  Muller  &  Troschel,  Horae  Ichthyologies,  I,  1845,  15  (type  Brycon 

falcatus  Miilter  &  Troschel). 
Chalcinopsis  Kner,  Sitzungsbr.  K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss.  Munchen.,  1863, 

226  (type  Chalcinopsis  striatuus  Kner). 

Body  elongate,  robust  anteriorly,  compressed  posteriorly,  covered 
with  cycloid  scales;  dorsal  fin  over  or  slightly  behind  ventrals;  mouth 


294    FIELD  MUSEUM  OP  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

large,  premaxillary  with  3  or  4  series  of  teeth,  each  tooth  with  from  3  to 
5  cusps;  teeth  in  lower  jaw  in  2  series,  the  first  composed  of  large  tri- 
cuspid  teeth,  the  second  series  with  2  canine  teeth  situated  behind  ante- 
rior teeth  in  first  series;  maxillary  with  small  tricuspid  teeth;  nostrils 
close  together;  gill-openings  wide,  the  membranes  slightly  united,  free 
from  the  isthmus;  gill-rakers  slender;  fontanel  present. 

The  species  of  this  genus  range  from  Guatemala,  south.     Four 
species  are  found  in  the  region  of  the  Canal  Zone. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Scales  small,  64  to  80  in  lateral  series;  anal  fin  long,  its  base  much 
longer  than  head,  with  32  to  37  rays. 

b.  Teeth  in  lower  jaw  very  large  and  strong,  usually  8,  rarely  only 
7  and  occasionally  9,  in  outer  series;  teeth  on  outer  edge  of  maxil- 
lary very  small,  9  to  10  in  number;  18  to  21  vertical  rows  of 
scales  crossing  back  between  dorsal  and  adipose. 

striatulus,  p.  294. 

bb.  Teeth  in  lower  jaw  notably  smaller,  13  to  14  in  outer  series;  teeth 
on  outer  edge  of  maxillary  moderately  developed,  12  to  13  in 
number;  21  to  25  vertical  rows  of  scales  crossing  back  between 
dorsal  and  adipose.  chagrensis,  p.  295. 

aa.  Scales  larger,  43  to  58  in  lateral  series;  anal  fin  short,  its  base 
about  equal  to  length  of  head,  with  24  to  30  rays. 

c.  Scales  moderate,  53  to  58  in  lateral  series,  16  to  18  vertical  rows 
crossing  back  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  upper  jaw  strongly 
projecting,  exposing  two  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  anteriorly. 

petrosus,  p.  297. 

cc.  Scales  large,  43  to  48  in  lateral  series,  12  to  14  vertical  rows  cross- 
ing back  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  upper  jaw  only  slightly  in 
advance  of  the  lower,  the  second  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  well 
covered  by  lower  lip.  argenteus,  p.  298. 

40.  Brycon  striatulus  (Kner). 

Chakinopsis  striatulus  Kner,  Sitzungsb.  K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss.  Munchen, 

1863,  226  (Panama);  Kner  &  Steindachner,  Abhandl.  K.  Bayer. 
Ak.  Wiss.  Munchen,  1866,  38,  PI.  V,  fig.  2  (New  Granada  and 
Panama  on  the  Pacific  slope  );  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V, 

1864,  337. 

Brycon  striatulus  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XLVII,  1896,  337- 

Head  3.6  to  4.45;  depth  3.05  to  3.6;  D.  n;  A.  32  to  35;  scales  in 
lateral  series  64  to  73. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  or  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     295 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  profile  slightly  concave  over  eyes, 
slightly  rounded  in  region  of  dorsal;  head  rather  small;  snout  pointed, 
3.5  to  4.3  in  head;  eye  3  to  4.6;  interorbital  2.35  to  3.5;  mouth  moderate; 
upper  jaw  strongly  projecting;  maxillary  scarcely  reaching  middle  of 
eye,  2.05  to  2.3  in  head;  premaxillary  teeth  laterally  in  only  2  series, 
anteriorly  in  4  series,  the  third  series  consisting  of  only  2  teeth;  the  fourth 
or  transverse  series  situated  just  in  front  of  the  teeth  in  lower  jaw, 
composed  of  3  or  4  teeth;  the  series  on  outer  edge  of  maxillary  very  small, 
only  9  or  i o  in  number;  those  in  lower  jaw  very  large  and  strong,  usually 
8,  rarely  7  and  occasionally  9  in  first  series;  gill-rakers  rather  small, 
about  15  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  complete,  curved  down- 
ward; scales  moderate,  regularly  placed,  18  to  21  vertical  rows  crossing 
back  between  dorsal  and  adipose,  4  or  5  longitudinal  rows  between 
lateral  line  and  base  of  pectoral;  dorsal  fin  inserted  slightly  nearer  base 
of  caudal  than  tip  of  snout;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe  the  longer; 
anal  fin  long,  its  base  much  longer  than  head,  inserted  slightly  behind 
base  of  last  ray  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  inserted  midway  between  base  of 
pectoral  and  origin  of  anal  or  slightly  nearer  the  latter;  pectoral  fins 
inserted  under  margin  of  opercle,  usually  reaching  nearly  to  base  of 
ventrals. 

Color  steel  blue  above,  silvery  below;  a  black  bar  on  shoulder  behind 
margin  of  opercle;  sides  otherwise  perfectly  plain  in  our  largest  speci- 
mens. The  smaller  ones  with  indistinct  blackish  vertical  bars  and  a 
large  caudal  spot.  Young  of  100  mm.  and  less  in  length  with  a  dark 
lateral  band.  Fins  unmarked  at  all  ages. 

This  species  is  represented  by  62  specimens,  ranging  from  45  to 
365  mm.  in  length.  It  was  taken  in  the  Rio  Chorrera  at  Chorrera,  Rio 
Juan  Diaz,  a  small  stream  near  Panama,  and  in  the  Rio  Bayano  and  Rio 
Tuyra  basins. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  Panama. 

41.  Dry  con  chagrensis  (Kner). 

Chalcinopsis  chagrensis  Kner,  Sitzungsb.  K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss.  Munchen., 
1863,  223;  Kner  &  Steindachner,  Abhandl.  K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss. 
Munchen.,  1864,  42,  PI.  V,  fig.  3  (Rio  Chagres);  Gunther,  Cat. 
Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V,  1864,  338;  Vaillant,  Bull.  Mus.  d'Hist.  Nat., 
1897,  22  (Rio  Chagres). 

Brycon  striatulus  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 
XLVII,  1896,  337;  Eigenmann  &  Ogle,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 
XXXIII,  1907,  30  (Aspinwal,  now  Colon);  Evermann  &  Golds- 
borough,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  4  (Panama  Canal 
Zone). 


296    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Head  3.6  to  4.9;  depth  3  to  3.65;  D.  n;  A.  32  to  37;  scales  in  lateral 
series  70  to  80. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  profile  straight  or  slightly  concave  over 
eyes,  slightly  rounded  in  region  of  dorsal;  head  rather  small;  snout 
pointed,  3.2  to  4  in  head;  eye  2.6  to  4.6;  interorbital  2.18  to  3.6;  mouth 
moderate;  upper  jaw  strongly  projecting;  maxillary  usually  not  quite 
reaching  middle  of  eye,  2  to  2.35  in  head;  premaxillary  teeth  laterally 
in  only  2  series,  anteriorly  in  4  series,  the  fourth  or  transverse  series 
situated  just  in  front  of  teeth  in  lower  jaw,  composed  of  3  or  4  teeth ;  the 
series  on  outer  edge  of  maxillary  moderately  developed,  12  or  13  in 
number;  teeth  in  lower  jaw  moderate,  notably  smaller  than  in  B. 
striatulus,  13  or  14,  rarely  only  12,  in  first  series;  gill-rakers  rather  small, 
about  15  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  complete,  curved  down- 
ward; scales  rather  small,  more  or  less  irregularly  placed,  21  to  25 
vertical  rows  between  dorsal  and  adipose,  4  or  5  longitudinal  rows 
between  lateral  line  and  base  of  pectoral;  dorsal  fin  inserted  midway 
between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal,  or  slightly  nearer  the  latter; 
caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe  the  larger;  anal  fin  inserted  behind 
base  of  last  ray  of  dorsal,  its  base  notably  longer  than  head;  ventral 
fins  inserted  a  little  nearer  origin  of  anal  than  base  of  pectorals;  pectoral 
fins  inserted  under  margin  of  operclei  failing  to  reach  base  of  ventrals 
by  3  or  4  rows  of  scales  in  large  examples,  sometimes  reaching  ventrals 
in  the  smaller  ones. 

Color  steel  blue  above,  silvery  below;  a  black  bar  on  shoulder  behind 
margin  of  opercle;  sides  with  ill  defined  blackish  bars,  these  not  evident 
in  specimens  less  than  no  mm.  in  length.  The  young  with  a  dark 
lateral  band.  A  caudal  spot  present,  or  rarely  wanting  in  large  speci- 
mens. Fins  unmarked. 

This  species  is  represented  by  many  specimens,  ranging  from  25 
to  500  mm.  in  length.  It  is  very  common  in  all  streams  in  the  Rio 
Chagres  Basin,  ranging  from  the  lowland  waters  to  the  highest  mountain 
streams.  It  is  the  most  important  fresh  water  food  fish  of  Panama. 
Its  flesh  is  penetrated  by  numerous  small  bones,  but  it  is  of  good  flavor 
and  much  prized  by  the  natives.  It  is  much  more  abundant  than  its 
Pacific  slope  relative,  B.  striatulus. 

This  species  differs  from  B.  striatulus  principally  in  the  denti- 
tion. The  scales  are  also  a  little  smaller.  The  average  in  a  lateral 
series  for  the  present  species  in  9  specimens  is  74+,  while  in  the 
preceding  species  for  the  same  number  of  specimens  the  average 
is  68+.  In  the  present  species  from  12  to  15  vertical  rows  of  scales 
cross  the  back,  between  the  dorsal  and  adipose,  while  in  the  fore- 
going there  are  18  to  21  rows.  The  color  in  the  present  species 


ffi  .S 

=8    a' 

•*    1 

<u   g 


\JJ 

2  § 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     297 

is  somewhat  darker  and  the  blackish  bars  on  sides  are  usually  more 
distinct. 

An  examination  of  specimens  from  Guatemala  shows  these  to  repre- 
sent a  distinct  species  and  should  be  known  as  Brycon  guatemalensis 
Regan.  The  teeth  are  like  those  of  B.  striatulus,  but  the  scales  are 
larger  (53  or  54  in  a  lateral  series). 

Habitat :  Atlantic  slope  of  Panama. 

42.  Brycon  petrosus  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Brycon  petrosus  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool. 

Ser.,  X,  1913,  184  (Upper  Chagres,  Panama). 

Head  3.3  to  4.1;  depth  3.15  to  3.9;  D.  n,  rarely  10;  A.  24  to  30; 
scales  in  lateral  series  53  to  58. 

Body  elongate,  compressed,  profile  straight  over  eyes,  somewhat 
elevated  at  nape;  head  moderate;  snout  pointed,  3.44  to  4  in  head;  eye 
2.83  to  4.23;  interorbital  2.15  to  4;  mouth  moderate;  upper  jaw  strongly 
projecting;  maxillary  reaching  slightly  past  anterior  margin  of  pupil, 
2.1  to  2.66  in  head;  premaxillary  teeth  laterally  in  only  2  series,  the 
second  series  exposed  at  least  anteriorly,  not  covered  by  lower  lip;  the 
last  or  transverse  series  rather  close  in  front  of  teeth  in  lower  jaw;  the 
outer  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  usually  14,  rarely  16,  in  number; 
outer  series  in  lower  jaw  with  8  strong  teeth  of  about  equal  size  and  2 
or  3  smaller  ones  behind  laterally;  gill-rakers  about  12  to  14  on  lower 
limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  decurved,  notably  below  median  line  of 
side;  scales  moderate,  regularly  placed,  16  to  18  vertical  rows  crossing 
back  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  3  complete  rows  between  lateral  line 
and  base  of  pectoral;  dorsal  fin  inserted  a  little  nearer  base  of  caudal 
than  tip  of  snout;  adipose  fin  half  as  far  from  base  of  upper  caudal  ray 
as  from  base  of  last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe  the 
longer;  anal  fin  rather  short,  its  base  slightly  longer  than  head,  its 
origin  a  little  behind  base  of  last  dorsal  ray,  slightly  nearer  base  of 
caudal  than  base  of  pectoral;  ventral  fins  usually  reaching  vent,  inserted 
nearer  origin  of  anal  than  base  of  pectoral;  pectoral  fins  inserted  under 
margin  of  opercle,  usually  failing  to  reach  base  of  ventrals  by  2  to  4 
rows  of  scales. 

Color  silvery,  bluish  above,  lighter  below;  sides  plain  silvery;  an 
obscure  shoulder  spot  present  in  the  smaller  specimens,  wanting  in  all 
of  our  larger  individuals;  very  young  with  a  dark  lateral  band.  A 
large  black  caudal  spot  present  at  all  ages. 

This  species  is  represented  by  numerous  specimens,  ranging  from  50 
to  285  mm.  in  length.  It  is  less  abundant  than  B,  chagrensis  and  does 
not  grow  as  large.  It  was  not  found  in  the  lowland  waters  but  it  is 


298    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

common  in  the  upper  courses  of  rocky  streams  in  the  Rio  Chagres  Basin. 
From  B.  argenteus  of  the  Pacific  slope,  its  nearest  relative,  it  differs 
mainly  in  the  smaller  scales. 

Habitat:  Atlantic  slope  of  Panama. 

43.  Brycon  argenteus  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Brycon  argenteus  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  84  (Rio  Aruza,  Darien). 

Head  3.5  to  4.45;  depth  2.96  to  3.84;  D.  u,  rarely  10;  A.  24  to  28; 
scales  in  lateral  series  43  to  48. 

Body  elongate,  compressed,  profile  straight  over  eyes,  somewhat 
elevated  at  nape;  head  small;  snout  pointed,  3.46  to  4.2  in  head;  eye 
2.86  to  4.25;  interorbital  2.4  to  3.5;  mouth  moderate;  upper  jaw  a  little 
in  advance  of  the  lower;  maxillary  reaching  to  or  slightly  past  anterior 
margin  of  pupil,  2.1  to  2.44  in  head;  premaxillary  teeth  laterally  in  only 
2  series,  the  second  series  well  covered  by  the  lower  lip;  the  last  or  trans- 
verse series  situated  close  in  front  of  the  teeth  in  lower  jaw,  touching 
them  when  mouth  is  closed;  the  outer  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  14  in 
number;  first  series  in  lower  jaw  with  8  strong  teeth  of  about  equal  size 
and  2  or  3  smaller  ones  behind  laterally;  gill-rakers  rather  small,  12  to 
14  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  decurved,  below  median  line 
of  side;  scales  large,  regularly  placed,  12  to  14  vertical  series  crossing 
back  between  dorsal  and  adipose;  2  longitudinal  rows  between  lateral 
line  and  base  of  pectoral;  dorsal  fin  inserted  a  little  nearer  base  of  caudal 
than  tip  of  snout;  adipose  fin  only  half  as  far  from  base  of  upper  caudal 
ray  as  base  of  last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe  the 
larger;  anal  fin  short,  its  base  about  as  long  as  head,  its  origin  below  or 
slightly  behind  base  of  last  dorsal  ray,  a  little  nearer  base  of  caudal  than 
base  of  pectorals;  ventral  fins  usually  not  quite  reaching  vent,  inserted 
a  little  nearer  origin  of  anal  than  base  of  pectorals;  pectoral  fins  inserted 
under  margin  of  opercle,  sometimes  reaching  base  of  ventrals,  but  often 
failing  to  reach  them  by  2  or  3  rows  of  scales. 

Color  silvery,  bluish  above,  pale  silvery  below;  sides  plain  in  large 
specimens,  the  smaller  ones  often  with  indistinct  dark  reticulations; 
very  young  with  a  dark  lateral  band.  A  large  black  caudal  spot  present : 
no  opercular  spot;  a  blackish  spot  or  bar  at  shoulder,  this  indistinct  in 
some  of  the  larger  specimens. 

The  present  collection  contains  340  specimens,  ranging  in  length 
from  30  to  230  mm.  This  species  was  taken  in  the  Rio  Chorrera  and 
in  the  Rio  Bayano  and  Rio  Tuyra  basins.  It  is  common  in  the  upper 
courses  of  rocky  streams,  reaching  a  smaller  size  than  B.  striatulus 
and  of  less  value  as  food. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    299 

Closely  related  to  B.  oligolepis  Regan  (Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser. 
8,  IX,  1913,  462).  We  have  not  seen  the  type  of  the  latter,  but  have 
for  comparison  specimens  from  the  type  locality  (Rio  Condoto),  identi- 
fied by  Dr.  Eigenmann.  The  differences  noted  are:  a.  The  more 
strongly  projecting  upper  jaw  of  the  latter,  exposing  2  series  of  pre- 
maxillary  teeth,  while  in  the  former  the  upper  jaw  projects  but  little 
and  the  second  series  of  teeth  is  well  covered  by  the  lower  lip.  b.  The 
last  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  is  situated  well  in  front  of  the  teeth  in 
lower  jaw,  leaving  a  space  between  them  when  the  mouth  is  closed. 
In  B.  argenteus  the  last  series  of  premaxillary  teeth  are  close  in  front  of 
the  teeth  in  lower  jaw,  touching  the  latter  when  the  mouth  is  closed. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  Panama. 

30.  Genus  Piabucina  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes. 

Piabucina  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XXII,  1849,  161 
(type  Piabucina  erythrinoides  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes). 
Body  oblong,  covered  with  large  scales;  ventral  region  rounded; 
mouth  moderate;  teeth  in  upper  jaw  in  one  series,  tricuspid,  those  of 
lower  jaw  in  two  series;  maxillary  with  few  teeth;  nostrils  close  together; 
gill-openings  wide,  the  membranes  not  attached  to  the  isthmus;  lateral 
line  wanting;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  short;  dorsal  fin  inserted  behind  ventrals. 
Neither  of  the  two  species  listed  below  grows  large.     Our  largest 
specimens  are  only  a  little  over  200  mm.  in  length. 

KEY    TO    THE    SPECIES. 

a.  A  dark  lateral  band  extending  from  above  posterior  angle  of 
opercle  to  base  of  caudal  and  situated  on  median  line  of  side, 
this  band  broad  at  shoulder,  becoming  narrower,  posteriorly 
often  broken  up  into  blotches,  ending  in  a  large  caudal  spot; 
body  slender,  the  depth  4  to  4.6  in  length;  depth  of  caudal 
peduncle  2.16  to  2.7  in  head;  maxillary  reaching  middle  of  eye; 
origin  of  dorsal  midway  between  margin  of  preopercle  and  tip 
of  adipose.  panamensis,  p.  300. 

aa.  A  dark  lateral  band  extending  from  posterior  angle  of  opercle  to  base 
of  caudal,  situated  notably  below  median  line  of  side,  anteriorly 
very  obscure  and  not  connected  with  the  shoulder  spot,  becoming 
more  distinct  above  ventrals,  not  broken  up  into  spots  posteriorly; 
no  caudal  spot;  body  rather  robust,  the  depth  3.6  to  3.95  in  length; 
depth  of  caudal  peduncle  1.75  to  2  in  head;  maxillary  reaching 
slightly  past  anterior  margin  of  eye;  origin  of  dorsal  midway  be- 
tween tip  of  adipose  and  margin  of  opercle.  festa,  p.  301. 


300    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

44.  Piabucina  panainensis  Gill. 

Piabucina  panamensis  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1876,  336  (Rio 
Frijoles,  Panama) ;  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 
XIV,  1891,  52;  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 
1896,  332;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1907,  167  (Rio  Tripoli, 
misprint  for  Rio  Frijoles) ;  Eigenmann,  Repts.  Princeton  Univ.  Exp. 
Patagonia,  III,  Pt.  IV,  1910,  439;  Evermann  &  Goldsborough, 
Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  3  (Gatun,  Panama  Canal 
Zone). 

Head  3.5  to  4.2;  depth  4  to  4.6;  D.  8  or  9;  A.  10  or  n;  scales 
28  or  30. 

Body  elongate,  little  compressed,  dorsal  and  ventral  outlines  about 
evenly  convex,  the  dorsal  region  not  elevated;  caudal  peduncle  com- 
pressed, its  depth  2.16  to  2.7  in  head;  head  low,  not  much  deeper  than 
wide  at  margin  of  preopercle;  snout  conical,  3.7  to  4.5  in  head;  eye  3.4 
to  5.8;  mouth  moderate,  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  reaching  about 
middle  of  eye;  teeth  tricuspid,  in  a  single  series  in  upper  jaw,  2  series  in 
lower  jaw,  the  outer  the  larger  and  about  30  in  number;  gill-rakers  short; 
scales  large,  regularly  placed,  12  in  median  line  in  advance  of  dorsal; 
dorsal  fin  inserted  about  midway  between  margin  of  preopercle  and  tip 
of  adipose;  adipose  fin  well  developed  in  all  specimens  at  hand;  caudal 
fin  covered  with  small  scales  at  base,  its  margin  convex;  anal  fin  with  a 
sheath  of  scales  at  base,  its  margin  convex;  ventral  fins  inserted  in 
advance  of  dorsal;  pectoral  fins  a  little  longer  than  ventrals,  failing  to 
reach  base  of  ventrals  by  4  or  5  rows  of  scales,  1.45  to  1.6  in  head. 

Color  brownish  above,  lighter  below;  a  dark  lateral  band  extending 
from  above  posterior  angle  of  opercle  to  base  of  caudal,  situated  on 
median  line  of  side.  This  band  is  broad  at  shoulder,  gradually  becom- 
ing narrower  along  side;  posteriorly  it  is  often  broken  up  into  spots. 
Dorsal  fin  with  an  obscure  dark  spot  at  base,  fins  otherwise  unmarked. 
When  swimming  in  the  water,  a  large  golden  spot  appears  on  the  back, 
involving  the  base  of  the  dorsal  fin.  This  area  becomes  slightly  darker 
than  remainder  of  back  in  preserved  specimens. 

This  species  is  represented  in  the  present  collection  by  148  specimens, 
ranging  from  60  to  205  mm.  in  length.  It  was  taken  at  the  following 
localities:  a.  On  the  Atlantic  slope  at  Toro  Point,  Agua  Clara,  Rio 
Indio  on  Upper  Chagres,  Gorgona,  Empire,  Culebra  and  Porto  Bello. 
b.  Pacific  slope  at  Corozal,  Araijan,  Culebra,  Rio  Calobre,  tributary  of 
the  Bayano,  and  Cerro  Azul. 

This  fish  is  usually  found  in  the  upper  courses  of  streams  on  rocky 
bottom  where  it  is  difficult  to  catch  with  a  seine.  However,  it  takes 
the  hook  readily  when  baited  with  fresh  meat.  Its  distribution  appears 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  or  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    301 

to  be  limited  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Canal  Zone.    In  the  Rio  Tuyra 
Basin  it  is  replaced  by  P.  festce. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama,  except  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 

45.  Piabucina  f estae  Boulenger. 

Pidbucina  festce  Boulenger,  Boll.  Mus.  Torino,  No.  346,  XIV,  1899, 
i  (Laguna  della  Pita,  Darien,  Panama) ;  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull. 
U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1900,  3145;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer., 
Pisces,  1907,  1 68;  Eigenmann,  Repts.  Princeton  Univ.  Exp.  Pata- 
gonia, III,  Pt.  IV,  1910,  439. 

Head 3. 7 to 4.25;  depth 3. 6  to 3. 95;  D.Sorg;  A.  toor  n;  scales  2?or  28. 
Body  elongate,  rather  robust,  the  ventral  outline  a  little  more 
strongly  convex  than  the  dorsal,  the  dorsal  region  not  elevated;  caudal 
peduncle  rather  deep,  compressed,  its  depth  1.75  to  2  in  head;  head  low, 
a  little  deeper  than  wide  at  margin  of  preopercle;  snout  conical,  4  to  4.5 
in  head;  eye  3.5  to  5;  mouth  rather  small;  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxil- 
lary reaching  a  little  past  anterior  margin  of  eye;  teeth  in  upper  jaw 
mostly  tricuspid,  in  a  single  series,  two  series  in  lower  jaw,  the  outer 
teeth  the  larger  and  about  20  in  number,  some  of  them  with  3  cusps 
and  some  with  5;  gill-rakers  short  and  slender;  scales  large,  regularly 
placed,  ii  or  12  on  median  line  in  advance  of  dorsal;  dorsal  fin  inserted 
about  midway  between  margin  of  opercle  and  tip  of  adipose;  adipose 
fin  present  in  all  Panama  specimens,  often  poorly  developed;  caudal  fin 
covered  with  small  scales  at  base,  its  margin  rather  deeply  concave,  the 
lobes  round  and  of  equal  length;  anal  fin  with  a  sheath  of  scales 
at  base,  its  margin  convex;  ventral  fins  inserted  in  advance  of  dorsal; 
pectoral  fins  somewhat  longer  than  ventrals,  failing  to  reach  the  base 
of  the  latter  by  4  or  5  rows  of  scales,  1.25  to  1.4  in  head. 

Color  brownish  above,  lighter  below;  sides  with  a  dark  lateral  band, 
extending  from  posterior  angle  of  opercle  to  base  of  caudal,  situated 
below  median  line  of  side.  Anteriorly  it  is  very  obscure,  becoming 
broader  and  more  distinct  on  middle  of  side,  not  broken  up  into  spots 
and  not  ending  in  a  caudal  spot;  a  shoulder  spot  present  but  not  con- 
nected with  lateral  band;  fins  unmarked.  When  swimming  in  the 
water  there  appears  a  bright  golden  streak  in  front  of  the  dorsal.  This 
area  is  unmarked  in  preserved  specimens. 

Of  this  species  54  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  60  to  160  mm., 
were  preserved  and  form  the  basis  for  the  above  description.  It  was 
found  only  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin  where  it  was  secured  in  both  ponds 
and  streams.  It  does  not  confine  itself  as  closely  to  rocky  streams  as 
the  preceding  species. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  Basin  and  southward  to  Colombia. 


302    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

31.  Genus  Luciocharax  Steindachner. 

Ctenolucius  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1861,  8  (no  type  designated). 
Luciocharax  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  XXXIX, 

1878,  67  (type  Luciocharax  insculptus  Steindachner). 
Belonocharax  Fowler,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1906,  464  (type  Belono- 

charax  beani  Fowler). 

Body  long>  not  much  compressed;  ventral  surface  rounded;  jaws 
much  produced;  teeth  present  on  both  jaws  and  maxillary,  in  a  single 
series,  directed  backward,  a  small  patch  present  on  roof  of  mouth  near 
tip  of  upper  jaw;  lateral  line  incomplete;  scales  large,  pectinate;  dorsal 
and  anal  inserted  far  backward. 

46.  Luciocharax  beani  (Fowler). 

Belonocharax  beani  Fowler,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1906,  464  (Rio 

Truando,  tributary  of  the  Rio  Atrato). 
Ctenolucius  hujeta  (non  Valenciennes)  Bean,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XXXIII,  1908,  701  (Rio  Truando). 
Luciocharax  striatus  Boutenger,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  8,  VII, 

1911,  212  (Boca  de  Calima,  Choco). 

Head  2.5  to  3.25;  depth  5.9  to  9.1;  D.  10;  A.  10  or  n;  scales 
47  to  50. 

Body  long,  not  much  compressed;  the  back  not  elevated;  head  long, 
flat  above;  snout  long,  slender,  beak-like,  2  to  2.5  in  head;  eye  7.7  to  10; 
interorbital  4.85  to  7.7;  mouth  large,  slightly  oblique;  upper  jaw  pro- 
jecting, ending  in  a  fleshy  point;  lower  Up  developed  into  a  flap  on  each 
side;  maxillary  slipping  under  suborbital,  reaching  opposite  posterior 
margin  of  eye;  teeth  in  the  jaws  sharply  pointed,  more  or  less  lance- 
shaped,  in  a  single  series,  all  directed  backward;  the  anterior  ones  in 
upper  jaw  somewhat  enlarged  and  in  advance  of  lower  jaw;  teeth  in 
sides  of  jaws  and  maxillary  small  and  very  numerous;  roof  of  mouth 
near  tip  of  upper  jaw  with  a  small  patch  of  conic  teeth;  gill-rakers 
poorly  developed,  7  more  or  less  developed  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch; 
lateral  line  present  on  22  to  32  scales  (in  one  specimen  on  only  16  scales) ; 
scales  strongly  striate  and  ctenoid,  with  pores;  dorsal  fin  small,  its 
origin  half  as  far  from  base  of  caudal  as  from  margin  of  preopercle; 
adipose  fin  well  developed,  a  little  nearer  base  of  upper  caudal  rays  than 
base  of  last  dorsal  ray;  caudal  fin  forked,  the  lower  lobe  the  larger;  anal 
fin  small,  its  origin  under  posterior  rays  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  short,  in- 
serted midway  between  base  of  pectorals  and  origin  of  anal;  pectoral 
fins  equal  to  or  slightly  shorter  than  postorbital  part  of  head,  inserted 
midway  between  tip  of  lower  jaw  and  base  of  ventrals. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    303 

Color  steel  blue  above,  silvery-white  below;  sides  with  alternating 
dark  and  pale  stripes.  The  pale  stripes  occupy  the  middle  of  each  row 
of  scales  and  the  black  ones  are  between  the  rows,  occupying  a  portion 
of  2  rows  of  scales.  Base  of  caudal  with  a  jet  black  spot,  preceded  by 
a  pale  area.  Fins  unmarked,  the  dorsal  caudal  and  anal  a  little  darker 
than  the  others. 

There  are  over  100  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  present  collection, 
ranging  in  length  from  70  to  325  mm.  It  was  taken  in  the  Rio  Tuyra, 
and  Rio  Mamoni  basins  and  in  the  Rio  Marte  Arnade  and  Rio  Juan 
Diaz. 

We  have  for  comparison  specimens  from  the  Rio  Atrato  Basin  with 
which  our  specimens  seem  to  agree  perfectly. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  Panama  and  both  slopes  of  Colombia. 

32.  Genus  Hoplias  Gill. 

Hoplias  Gill,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXVI,   1903,  1015  (type  Esox 

malabaricus  Bloch). 

Macrodon  Muller  &  Troschel,  Horae  Ichth.,  1842,  6  (type  Esox  mala- 
baricus Bloch).  (Preoccupied.) 

Body  elongate,  terete,  slightly  compressed;  mouth  large,  with  coni- 
cal teeth,  some  canine-like;  palatines  with  teeth;  maxillary  for  most 
part  slipping  under  suborbital;  no  occipital  process;  no  fontanel;  air 
bladder  present;  no  adipose  fin;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  short. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Scales  in  lateral  line  42  to  44;  n  rows  across  caudal  peduncle 
from  one  lateral  line  to  the  other;  5  complete  rows  between  lateral 
line  and  base  of  anal.  microlepis,  p.  303. 

aa.  Scales  in  lateral  line  39  to  41 ;  9  rows  across  caudal  peduncle  from 
one  lateral  line  to  the  other;  4  complete  rows  between  lateral 
line  and  base  of  anal.  malabaricus,  p.  305. 

47.  Hoplias  microlepis  (Giinther).     Perro  Pesca  or  Pejeperro. 

Macrodon  microlepis  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V.  1864,  282  (Rio 
Chagres;  Western  Ecuador);  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  Cal. 
Ac.  Sci.,  2nd  Ser.,  2,  1889,  102  (Obispo;  Rio  Chagres);  Eigenmann, 
Ann.  N.  Y.  Acad.  Sci.,  1889,  102;  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S. 
Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896,  330;  Boulenger,  Boll.  Mus.  Torino, 
No.  329,  XIII,  1898,  i  (Rio  Daule  and  Rio  Vinces,  Ecuador). 

Macrodon  trahira  var.  microlepis  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak. 
Wiss.  Wien,  XLI,  1880,  101  (Guayaquil). 


304    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Hoplias  microlepis  Starks,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXX,  1906,  772 

(Guayaquil);   Regan,  Biol.   Cent.   Amer.,    Pisces,  1907,  167  (Rio 

Chagres;  western  Ecuador);  Eigenmann,  Repts.  Princeton  Univ. 

Exp.  Patagonia,  III,  Pt.  IV,  1910,  447. 

Head  2.85  to  3.4;  depth  4  to  5;  D.  14,  rarely  13;  A.  10,  rarely  n; 
scales  in  lateral  line  42  to  44. 

Body  elongate,  not  much  compressed,  dorsal  region  not  elevated; 
head  long  and  low,  slightly  convex  above;  interorbital  3.2  to  5  in  head; 
snout  3.45  to  4.6;  eye  4.75  to  8.25;  mouth  large,  lower  jaw  projecting; 
maxillary  reaching  beyond  posterior  margin  of  eye,  mostly  slipping  under 
suborbital;  teeth  present  on  both  jaws,  and  on  palatines,  the  latter  all 
small;  some  of  the  anterior  teeth  in  jaws  much  enlarged,  somewhat 
flattened,  with  very  sharp  cutting  edges;  gill-rakers  poorly  developed, 
5  below  angle  on  anterior  arch;  lateral  line  complete,  straight,  situated 
on  median  line  of  side;  scales  moderate,  regularly  placed,  cycloid,  15  to 
1 8  on  median  line  in  advance  of  dorsal;  n,  rarely  10,  rows  of  scales  across 
caudal  peduncle  from  one  lateral  line  to  the  other;  5  complete  rows 
between  the  lateral  line  and  anal  fin;  dorsal  fin  inserted  midway  between 
tip  of  upper  jaw  and  base  of  caudal,  or  slightly  nearer  the  former;  adipose 
wanting;  caudal  fin  convex;  anal  fin  inserted  posteriorly,  the  longest 
ray  reaching  nearly  to  base  of  lower  caudal  ray;  ventral  fins  inserted 
under  base  of  pectorals,  slightly  nearer  base  of  caudal  than  tip  of  lower 
jaw;  pectoral  fins  inserted  slightly  behind  margin  of  preopercle,  failing 
to  reach  base  of  ventrals  by  4  or  5  rows  of  scales. 

Color  of  large  specimens  very  dark  brown  above,  lighter  below, 
uniform,  without  band  or  blotches;  young  much  paler,  mottled  with 
brown  and  with  a  more  or  less  distinct  dark  lateral  band.  The  dark 
mottlings  of  the  young  later  appear  to  become  concentrated  into  dark 
blotches  along  the  side.  The  dark  lateral  band  is  much  more  persistant 
in  some  specimens  than  in  others.  Fins  all  with  dark  spots  forming 
more  or  less  distinct  wavy  bars. 

There  are  175  specimens,  ranging  from  27  to  460  mm.  in  length,  in 
the  present  collection.  It  was  found  in  all  streams  visited  on  both 
slopes  of  Panama,  except  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin  where  it  is  replaced 
by  H.  malabaricus.  A  very  abundant  fish  in  lowland  streams,  usually 
preferring  shallow  water  where  there  is  an  abundance  of  vegetation. 
It  is  called,  "Perro  Pesca"=  dog  fish,  by  the  natives  because  of  its 
large  sharp  teeth  and  its  habit  of  snapping  at  objects  coming  near  it. 
Care  must  be  exercised  in  picking  specimens  from  the  net,  as  it  is  able 
to  inflict  painful  wounds  with  its  sharp  teeth  and  powerful  jaws.  This 
fish,  although  used  to  some  extent  as  food,  is  not  regarded  as  of  good 
flavor  and  is  of  minor  importance. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     305 

We  have  for  comparison  specimens  from  western  Ecuador,  which 
seem  to  be  identical  with  the  Panama  specimens. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama,  except  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin, 
and  the  western  slope  of  Ecuador. 

48.  Hoplias  malabaricus  (Bloch). 

Esox  malabaricus  Bloch,  Naturgesch.  der  Ausland.  Fische,  Pt.  8,  1794, 

149,  PI.  392  (Tranquebar,  locality  wrongly  given). 
Synodus  malabaricus  Bloch  &  Schneider,  Syst.  Ichth.,  1801,  397. 
Synodus  tareira  Bloch  &  Schneider,  Syst.  Ichth.,  1801,  398,  PI.  79. 
Macrodon  tareira  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XIX,  1846, 

508  (Bahia;  San  Francisco;  Amazon;  Maracaibo). 
Eryihrinus  trahira  Agassiz,  Spix,  Piscium  Brasil.,  1829,  PI.  18  (Bahia). 
Macrodon  trahira  Muller  &  Troschel,  in  Schomburgk,  Reisen  in  Brit- 

isch-Guiana,  Fische,  III,  1848,  632. 
Erythrinus  macrodon  Agassiz,  Spix,  Piscium  Brasil.,  1829,  43,  PL  18 

(Alma,  Prov.  Bahia;  San  Francisco). 
Erythrinus  microcephalus  Agassiz,  Spix,  Piscium  Brasil.,  1829,  44  (San 

Francisco). 
Erythrinus  brasiliensis  Agassiz,  Spix,  Piscium  Brasil.,  1829,  45,  PI.  20 

(Peruaguacu). 
Macrodon  guavina  Valenciennes,  Humboldt  Observ.  Zool.,  II,  1833,  179, 

PL  48,  fig.  i. 
Macrodon  auritus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XIX,  1846, 

519  (Montevideo). 
Macrodon  teres  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XIX,  1846, 

521  (Lake  Maracaibo). 

Macrodon  patana  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XIX,  1846, 

522  (Cayenne). 

Macrodon  aimara  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XIX,  1846, 

523,  pi.  586  (Cayenne). 
Macrodon  ferox  Gill,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  VI,  1858,  51  (Trinidad, 

W.  I.). 
Macrodon  intermedius  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  V,  1864,  282 

(Cipo  River). 
Macrodon  malabaricus  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  2nd 

Ser.,  2,  1889,  102. 
Hoplias  malabaricus  Gill,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXVI,  1903,  1015. 

Head  2.15  to  3.3;  depth  4.3  to  5;  D.  13  or  14;  A.  10  or  n;  scales  in 
lateral  line  39  to  41. 

Body  elongate,  not  much  compressed,  dorsal  region  not  elevated; 
head  long  and  low,  slightly  convex  above;  interorbital  space  3.65  to 


306    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

4.25  in  head;  snout  3.7  to  4.37;  eye  4.65  to  6.8;  mouth  large;  lower  jaw 
projecting;  maxillary  reaching  past  posterior  margin  of  eye,  mostly 
slipping  under  suborbital;  teeth  as  in  preceding  species;  gill-rakers 
poorly  developed,  5  below  angle  on  anterior  arch;  lateral  line  complete, 
straight,  occupying  median  line  of  side;  scales  large,  regularly  placed, 
cycloid,  15  to  17  on  median  line  in  advance  of  dorsal;  9  scales  across 
caudal  peduncle  from  one  lateral  line  to  the  other;  4  complete  rows  of 
scales  between  lateral  line  and  anal  fin;  dorsal  fin  inserted  midway 
between  tip  of  upper  jaw  and  base  of  caudal  or  slightly  nearer  the 
former;  adipose  fin  wanting;  caudal  fin  convex;  anal  fin  inserted  poste- 
riorly, the  longest  rays  not  quite  reaching  base  of  lower  caudal  rays; 
ventral  fins  inserted  under  base  of  dorsal,  a  little  nearer  base  of  caudal 
than  tip  of  lower  jaw;  pectoral  fins  inserted  behind  margin  of  preopercle, 
failing  to  reach  base  of  ventrals  by  4  or  5  rows  of  scales. 

Color  as  in  preceding  species. 

Of  this  species  8  specimens  were  preserved.  They  range  in  length 
from  85  to  295  mm.  All  are  from  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 

This  species  is  closely  related  to  the  preceding,  differing  mainly  in 
the  slightly  larger  scales.  Our  specimens  were  compared  with  specimens 
from  the  Rio  Atrato  Basin,  with  which  they  appear  to  agree  perfectly. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  Basin;  both  slopes  of  Colombia;  Ecuador,  and 
south  to  Brazil. 

Family  VII.   Gymnotidae. 

Body  elongate,  more  or  less  eel-shaped;  with  or  without  scales; 
vertebrae  many;  skull  with  or  without  a  frontal  fontanel;  parietal  fon- 
tanel  always  present;  mouth  with  or  without  teeth;  margin  of  upper 
jaw  formed  by  maxillaries  and  premaxillaries;  air-bladder  in  2  parts, 
connected  by  a  small  tube;  vent  well  forward,  never  behind  tips  of 
pectorals,  usually  under  head;  dorsal  fin  wanting,  or  represented  by  a 
filament;  caudal  fin  present  or  more  usually  absent,  the  tail  terminating 
in  a  pointed  appendage  when  fin  is  wanting;  anal  fin  very  long;  ventral 
fins  wanting;  pectoral  fins  present,  small. 

KEY   TO   THE   GENERA. 

a.  Frontal  fontanel  wanting.  Gymnotus,  p.  307. 
aa.   Frontal  and  parietal  fontanels  present. 

b.  Caudal  fin  and  dorsal  filament  wanting. 

c.  Orbital  margin  free;  teeth  present  in  both  jaws,  in  2  more  or  less 
distinct  patches  in  upper  jaw  and  in  a  single  patch  in  lower  jaw. 

Sternopygus,  p.  308. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  or  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    307 

cc.  Orbital  margin  not  free;  eye  covered  by  a  transparent  mem- 
brane. 

d.  Teeth  wanting;  origin  of  anal  about  the  length  of  pectoral  fin 
behind  gill-opening.  Hypopomus,  p.  309. 

dd.  Teeth  present  in  both  jaws;  origin  of  anal  under  or  slightly 
behind  base  of  pectorals.  Eigenmannia,  p.  311. 

bb.  Caudal  fin  and  dorsal  filament  present;  mouth  large,  its  angle 
little,  if  any,  in  front  of  eyes.  Sternarchus,  p.  312. 

33.  Genus  Gymnotus  Linnaeus. 

Gymnotus  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  Ed.  X,  1758,  246  (type  Gymnotus  carapo 

Linnaeus). 

Size  moderate,  not  exceeding  600  mm.  in  length.  No  frontal  fon- 
tanel;  no  caudal  fin;  a  dorsal  filament;  no  electrical  organs;  cylindrical 
anteriorly,  somewhat  compressed  posteriorly;  head  large  and  depressed, 
the  top  quite  flat;  gape  not  reaching  the  eyes;  lower  jaw  protruding; 
teeth  small,  conical,  in  one  row  (which  is  sometimes  irregular)  in  each 
jaw;  eyes  small  and  covered  by  membrane,  without  free  orbital  margin; 
scales  cycloid  and  very  small;  lateral  line  complete  and  paralleling  the 
main  axis  of  the  body;  pectorals  small;  anal  long,  its  origin  back  of 
vertical  from  the  tip  of  the  pectoral.  (Ellis.) 

Of  this  genus  only  a  single  widely  distributed  species  is  known. 

49.  Gymnotus  carapo  Linnaeus. 

Gymnotus  carapo  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  Ed.  X,  1758,  246,  and  Ed.  XII, 

1766,  427;  Meek,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  VII,  1907, 

135  (LosAmates  and  Lake  Amatitlan,  Guatemala) ;  Ellis,  Memoir. 

Carnegie  Mus.,  VI,  1913,  117  (Guatemala,  south  to  the  Rio  de  la 

Plata  and  the  West  Indies). 
Gymnotus  fasciatus  Pallas,  Spicil.  Zool.,  VII,  1769,  35;  Schomburgk, 

Fishes  of  Guiana,  1843,  184,  PI.  19  (Rio  Branco). 
Gymnotus  albus  Pallas,  Spicil.  Zool.,  VII,  1769,  36  (Surinam). 
Gymnotus  brachyurus  Bloch,  Syst.  Ichthyol.  1787,  Taf.  157,  fig.  i. 
Gymnotus  putaol  Lace"pede,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  II,  1800,  176. 
Carapus  fasciatus  Cuvier,  Regne  Animal,  Ed.  I,  II,  1817,  237. 
Carapus  brachiurus  Cuvier,  R£gne  Animal,  Ed.  I,  II,  1817,  237. 
Carapus  inaquildbiatus  Valenciennes,  in  d'Orbigny,  Voy.  Ame"r.  Me"rid., 

V,  Pt.  2,  1847,  u,  PI.  14  (La  Plata). 
Giton  fasciatus  Kaup,  in  Dumeril,  Analyt.  Ichthyol.,  1856,  201;  Jordan 

&  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896,  340  (Guatemala 

to  Rio  de  la  Plata). 


308    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

"Head  7.25  (old  individuals)  to  n  (young  individuals) ;  depth  8.5 
to  14  in  length  to  end  of  the  anal;  anal  rays  200  to  260. 

"Snout  2.5  to  3;  interorbital  2.25  to  3  in  head;  eye  4  (young)  to  7  in 
the  snout,  4.25  to  6  in  the  interorbital,  10  to  6  in  the  head. 

"Body  cylindrical;  head  depressed;  width  of  head  1.25  to  1.6,  depth 
of  head  at  base  of  the  occipital  process  1.3  to  1.8  in  the  greatest  depth; 
anus  near  the  vertical  from  a  point  the  length  of  the  snout  behind  the 
eye;  dorsal  profile  almost  straight;  ventral  profile  slightly  convex. 

"Snout  very  slightly  pointed  in  young  specimens,  blunt  in  adults; 
mouth  rather  large;  gape  straight,  reaching  about  two-thirds  of  the 
distance  to  almost  below  the  eye;  upper  jaw  included;  caudal  peduncle 
one-half  the  length  of  the  snout  or  less;  pectorals  2.25  to  3  in  the  head; 
origin  of  the  anal  behind  pectorals,  on  the  vertical  from  a  point  about 
1.5  times  the  snout  behind  the  head. 

"Ground-color  of  alcoholic  specimens  varies  from  a  light  slate-gray 
in  young  specimens  to  a  light  orange  in  adults;  a  series  of  transverse 
white  stripes  crossing  the  body  in  young  individuals,  which  widen  and 
become  yellow  with  age  so  that  the  adults  are  yellow,  barred  with  black; 
dorsal  parts  washed  with  a  dark  chocolate-brown  containing  numerous 
black  spots;  fins  translucent,  mottled  with  black  or  brown. 

"In  life  the  body  is  translucent,  flesh  color  or  pale  yellow,  vary- 
ing to  a  distinct  pink  in  the  parts  rich  in  blood.  The  stripes  and 
markings  are  blue  or  green,  giving  the  fish  a  purplish  or  olive-green 
cast.  This  color  may  be  deepened  or  lightened  slightly  by  the  ex- 
pansion and  contraction  of  chromatophores. 

"The  general  marking  of  the  species  varies  considerably,  specimens 
from  clear  water  being  darker  and  more  striped  than  those  from  muddy 
water.  Some  specimens  from  Guatemala  and  from  the  Upper  Paraguay 
are  almost  without  markings."  (Ellis) 

This  species  was  not  taken  in  Panama,  but  it  is  here  included  because 
it  has  been  recorded  from  Central  and  South  America,  thus  coming 
within  the  range  of  the  present  work. 

Habitat:  Guatemala  south  to  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  and  the  West 
Indies. 

34.  Genus  Sternopygus  Muller  &  Troschel. 

Sternopygus  Muller  &  Troschel,  Horae  Ichthyol.,  III,  1849,  13   (type 

Gymnotus  macrurus  Block  &  Schneider). 

Differing  from  all  other  Gymnotids  in  the  free  orbital  margin.  Body 
elongate,  compressed;  head  moderate;  snout  short;  jaws  equal,  or  the 
upper  a  little  in  advance  of  the  lower,  the  latter  included  at  sides;  teeth 
minute,  in  2  more  or  less  distinct  patches  in  upper  jaw,  in  a  single  patch 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    309 

in  lower  jaw;  frontal  and  parietal  fontanels  present;  caudal  peduncle 
round  or  compressed,  without  caudal  fin;  scales  small,  cycloid;  lateral 
line  complete;  origin  of  anal  in  pectoral  region;  posterior  air  bladder 
conic.  Size  moderate  or  rather  large. 

59.  Sternopygus  dariensis  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8949,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  300  mm.;  Marrigante,  Rio 
Tuyra,  Panama. 

Head  5.95  to  7.7  in  length  to  end  of  anal;  depth  6.65  to  7.8;  A.  256 
to  292. 

Body  elongate,  more  or  less  eel-shaped,  compressed;  head  small, 
its  upper  profile  usually  slightly  concave;  snout  rather  slender,  not 
much  deeper  than  wide,  its  length  2.2  to  3  in  head;  eye  small,  with  a  free 
orbital  margin,  3.1  to  7.25  in  snout;  interorbital  4.85  to  6.66  in  head; 
mouth  moderate,  the  gape  reaching  about  half  way  to  eye;  upper  jaw 
a  little  in  advance  of  the  lower,  the  latter  included  at  sides;  teeth  in 
the  jaws  villiform,  those  of  the  upper  jaw  separated  into  two  patches 
by  a  median  line;  gill-slit  scarcely  as  long  as  snout;  vent  3  or  4  times 
diameter  of  eye  behind  vertical  from  posterior  margin  of  orbit; 
caudal  peduncle  varying  in  length,  from  notably  shorter  than  head 
to  a  little  longer  than  head,  rather  robust,  compressed;  lateral  line 
complete,  following  the  outline  of  the  back;  scales  very  small,  cycloid; 
origin  of  anal  below  or  a  little  behind  base  of  pectorals,  the  longest 
rays  a  little  shorter  than  snout;  pectoral  fins  small,  2.1  to  2.75  in 
head. 

Color  grayish  brown,  the  back  slightly  darker  than  the  rest  of  body; 
sides  with  numerous  dusky  punctulations.  Fins  unmarked. 

This  species  is  represented  by  25  specimens,  ranging  from  124  to 
810  mm.  in  length.  All  were  taken  below  the  head  of  tide  water  at 
Marrigante  on  the  Rio  Tuyra.  We  have  designated  as  the  type  a 
specimen  300  mm.  in  length. 

This  species  differs  from  S.  macrurus,  its  nearest  relative,  in  the 
slightly  concave  profile  of  head,  more  slender  snout,  smaller  eye,  nar- 
rower interorbital,  in  the  shorter  and  much  heavier  tail,  and  in  the 
slightly  more  posterior  position  of  the  vent. 

35.  Genus  Hypopomus  Gill. 

Hypopomus  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1864,  152  (type  Rham- 

phichthys  mulleri  Kaup). 
Brachyrhamphichthys  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.   Mus.,  VIII,  1870,    6 

(type  Rhamphichthys  artedi  Kaup). 


3io    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  size  small;  head  short;  snout  blunt; 
frontal  and  parietal  fontanels  well  developed;  mouth  small;  teeth 
wanting;  eyes  covered  by  a  transparent  membrane;  scales  small,  cycloid; 
lateral  line  complete;  no  caudal  fin;  origin  of  anal  about  the  length  of 
pectoral  fin  behind  vertical  from  gill-opening. 

51.  Hypopomus  brevirostris  (Steindachner). 

Rhamphichthys   breviroslris   Steindachner,   Sitzb.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien, 

LVIII,   1868,  254,  PI.  II,  fig.   2  (Guapore");  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish. 

Brit.  Mus.,  VIII,  1870,  6;  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss. 

Wien,  XLI,   1880,  89  (Rio  Guapore",  Amazon  stream  near  San- 

tarem,  and  Rio  Cauca). 
Brachyrhamphichthys    brevirostris    Eigenmann    &    Eigenmann,    Proc. 

U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XIV,  1891,  62. 
Hypopomus  brevirostris  Eigenmann  &  Kennedy,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci. 

Phila.,    1903,    530    (Campo   Grande,   Arroyo    Chagalalina) ;   Ellis, 

Memoir.  Carnegie  Mus.,  VI,  1913,  134,  fig.  7;  Eigenmann  &  Fisher, 

Indiana  Univ.  Studies,  No.  25,  1914,  236  (Rivers  of  Colombia). 
Hypopomus  occidentalis  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  8,  XIV, 

1914,  32. 

Head  in  length  to  end  of  anal  fin  6.8  to  9.3;  depth  6.8  to  9;  A.  213  to 
238. 

Body  elongate,  rather  strongly  compressed;  caudal  filament  ribbon- 
shaped,  pointed;  upper  profile  of  head  and  body  gently  convex;  head 
short;  snout  blunt,  3  to  3.55  in  head;  eye  small,  covered  with  a  trans- 
parent membrane,  9  to  12  in  head;  interorbital  4  to  4.35;  mouth  small; 
jaws  subequal,  the  lower  slightly  included;  maxillary  about  twice  the 
length  of  eye;  teeth  wanting;  no  mental  filaments;  lateral  line  becoming 
obscure  posteriorly;  scales  small,  cycloid;  caudal  filament  1.12  to  1.2  in 
length  to  end  of  anal;  vent  under  preopercular  margin,  from  2  to  3.5 
times  diameter  of  eye  behind  vertical  from  posterior  margin  of  orbit; 
origin  of  anal  fin  a  little  in  advance  of  tips  of  pectorals,  or  about  the 
snout's  length  behind  base  of  these  fins;  pectoral  fins  short,  1.65  to  2  in 
head. 

Color  brownish  or  buff,  with  darker  markings  of  varying  sizes,  some- 
times forming  more  or  less  distinct  cross-bars  on  anterior  portion  of 
body. 

This  fish  is  represented  by  4  specimens  ranging  from  68  to  162  mm. 
in  length.  Two  of  our  specimens  are  from  the  Rio  Chagres  Basin  and 
the  other  two  from  the  Rio  Bayano  Basin. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama  and  Colombia  and  south  to  the 
Rio  de  la  Plata. 


DEC.  28,  1916.     FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    311 

36.  Genus  Eigenmannia  Jordan  &  Evermann. 

Cryptops  Eigenmann,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Ac.  Sci.,  VII,  1894,  626  (type  Sterno- 
pygus humboldtii  Steindachner=S/ernarc/ws  virescens  Valenciennes). 
(Name  preoccupied.) 

Eigenmannia  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896, 
341.  (Substituted  for  Cryptops.) 

This  genus  is  distinguished  from  Sternopygus  by  the  absence  of  a 
free  orbital  margin.  Body  elongate,  compressed;  head  rather  small; 
snout  blunt;  mouth  small;  jaws  equal,  or  the  lower  included;  a  large 
frontal  and  parietal  fontanel  present;  eyes  medium,  covered  by  a 
transparent  membrane;  teeth  in  upper  jaw  in  2  almost  confluent  patches, 
those  of  lower  jaw  in  2  lateral  patches;  scales  small,  cycloid;  lateral  line 
complete;  origin  of  anal  back  of  vertical  from  origin  of  pectorals;  caudal 
filament  moderate  or  long.  Size  moderate,  not  exceeding  400  mm. 

52.  Eigenmannia  virescens  (Valenciennes). 

Sternarchus  virescens  Valenciennes,  in  d'Orbigny,  Voy.  Ame'r.  Me*rid., 

V,  Pt.  2,  1847,  u,  PI.  13,  fig.  2. 
Sternarchus  virescens  Muller  &  Troschel,    in  Schomburgk,  Reisen  in 

Britisch-Guiana,  Fische,  III,  1848,  640  (Guiana);  Gunther,  Cat. 

Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  VIII,  1870,  7  (Surinam). 
Sternopygus  lineatus   Muller  &  Troschel,  in  Schomburgk,  Reisen  in 

Britisch-Guiana,  Fische,  III,  1848,  640  (Guiana). 
Sternopygus  tumijrons  Muller  &  Troschel,  Horae  Ichthyol.,  Ill,  1849,  14. 
Sternopygus  humboldtii  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien, 

XXXIX,  1878,  71,  PI.  XIV  (Rio  Magdalena). 
Cryptops  virescens  Eigenmann,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Ac.  Sci.,  VII,  1894,  626. 
Cryptops  lineatus  Eigenmann,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Ac.  Sci.,  VII,  1894,  635. 
Cryptops  humboldtii  Eigenmann,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Ac.  Sci.,  VII,  1894,  625. 
Eigenmannia  humboldtii  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XLVII,  1896,  341. 

Head  6.05  to  7.15  in  length  to  end  of  anal  fin;  depth  5.7  to  7;  A. 

165. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  dorsal  profile  of  head  and  body  convex; 
head  short;  snout  blunt,  its  length  2.85  to  3.3  in  head;  eye  moderate, 
4.9  to  5.7;  interorbital  3  to  3.2;  mouth  small;  jaws  subequal,  the  lower 
included,  at  least  on  sides;  maxillary  about  equal  to  length  of  eye;  teeth 
in  the  upper  jaw  in  2  nearly  confluent  patches,  those  in  lower  jaw  in 
2  lateral  patches;  vent  about  one-half  diameter  of  eye  behind  vertical 
from  posterior  margin  of  orbit;  caudal  filament  in  our  small  specimen 
flat,  ribbon-shaped  and  more  than  half  the  length  of  anal,  lost  in  the 


312    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

larger  specimen;  origin  of  anal  slightly  behind  origin  of  pectorals,  the 
longest  rays  but  little  shorter  than  eye  and  snout;  pectorals  of  moderate 
length,  1.17  to  1.2  in  head. 

Color  grayish  buff;  sides  with  dark  points,  forming  an  indistinct 
dark  area  at  beginning  of  lateral  line  and  an  indefinite  dark  streak  on 
lateral  line,  and  short  bars  below  base  of  anal  rays;  fins  unmarked. 

Of  this  species  we  have  only  2  specimens  and  the  largest  one  is  with- 
out a  tail.  The  smallest  one  measures  150  mm.  in  total  length.  Both 
are  from  Marrigante,  below  the  head  of  tide  water  on  the  Rio  Tuyra. 

We  have  at  hand  for  comparison  many  specimens  from  more  south- 
ern localities.  Our  uninjured  specimen  appears  to  differ  somewhat 
from  all  the  others  that  have  been  examined  in  the  apparently  deeper 
body,  shorter  anal  fin  and  the  compressed  caudal  filament,  which  is 
considerably  longer  than  half  the  anal.  It  is,  therefore,  probable  that 
our  specimens  represent  a  new  variety  or  species,  but  our  material  is 
too  meagre  to  establish  this  fact. 

Habitat:  Rio  Tuyra  south  to  the  Rio  de  la  Plata. 

37.  Genus  Sternarchus  Bloch  &  Schneider. 

Sternarchus  Bloch  &  Schneider,  Syst.  Ichthyol.,  1801,  497,  PI.  94  (type 

Gymnotus  albifrons  Linnaeus). 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  head  large,  naked;  snout  short,  not  tubu- 
lar; fontanels  present;  eyes  without  free  orbital  margin;  mouth  large,  its 
angle  little  if  any  in  advance  of  eyes;  teeth  in  patches  on  both  jaws; 
scales  cycloid;  lateral  line  complete;  caudal  fin  present,  distinct;  anal  fin 
long,  but  not  reaching  caudal  fin,  its  origin  at  or  a  little  in  advance  of 
vertical  from  gill-opening. 

53.  Sternarchus  rostratus  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Sternarchus  rostratus  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  85  (Rio  Grande  near  Cana). 

Head  6.7  in  length  to  base  of  caudal;  depth  8.25. 

Body  compressed  throughout;  head  rather  low,  its  greatest  depth 
1.8  in  its  length,  its  upper  profile  slightly  concave;  snout  not  greatly 
produced,  blunt,  very  slightly  compressed,  its  length  somewhat  greater 
than  distance  from  anterior  margin  of  eye  to  upper  angle  of  gill- 
opening,  2.3  in  head;  eye  18.5;  interorbital  5.6;  mouth  rather  large,  its 
angle  under  about  middle  of  eye;  upper  jaw  a  little  in  advance  of  the 
lower;  gill-opening  a  small  slit  in  advance  of  pectorals;  lateral  line  com- 
plete; mucus  pores  numerous  and  distinct  on  back  and  sides;  vent 
under  margin  of  preopercle;  dorsal  filament  present;  caudal  fin  distinct, 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     313 

rounded,  not  much  longer  than  interorbital  width;  origin  of  anal  slightly 
in  advance  of  gill-opening,  its  longest  rays  equal  to  or  a  little  shorter 
than  snout;  pectoral  fins  equal  to  half  length  of  head. 

Color  uniform  brownish,  without  dark  punctulations;  a  very  distinct 
yellowish  stripe  on  median  line  of  snout  and  back,  disappearing  at  origin 
of  dorsal  filament.  Fins  unmarked. 

Of  this  species  only  a  single  specimen  was  secured,  measuring  126 
mm.  in  length.  It  was  taken  in  the  Rio  Grande,  tributary  of  the  Rio 
Tuyra,  several  miles  above  Cana.  Several  others  were  seen,  floating 
down  stream  after  a  discharge  of  dynamite,  but  before  they  could  be 
reached  they  had  apparently  recovered  from  the  shock  and  quickly 
disappeared. 

We  compared  our  specimen  with  several  from  the  Rio  Cauca,  at 
Cali,  Colombia,  and  found  them  to  be  identical. 


Order  III.    Haplomi. 

THE  PIKE-LIKE  FISHES. 

Body  elongate;  scales  cycloid,  extending  on  head;  lateral  line 
wanting;  fin  rays  soft;  dorsal  fin  single,  placed  posteriorly;  ventral  fins 
abdominal.  Opercles  well  developed;  mesocoracoid  absent;  hyper- 
coracoid  and  hypocoracoid  separate;  pharyngeal  bones  distinct. 


Family  VIII.   Poeciliidae. 

THE  KILLIFISHES. 

Body  oblong  to  more  or  less  elongate;  depressed  anteriorly,  com- 
pressed posteriorly,  covered  with  rather  large  cycloid  scales;  head  usually 
flat  above;  mouth  protractile,  bordered  above  by  the  premaxillaries;  jaws 
with  teeth,  incisor-like  to  villiform;  gill -membranes  more  or  less  con- 
nected, free  from  the  isthmus;  gill-rakers  short  and  thick;  dorsal  fin 
single,  of  soft  rays  only;  ventral  fins  abdominal;  caudal  fin  usually 
rounded  or  truncate. 

The  species  of  this  family  are  very  numerous;  some  of  them  are 
viviparous.  Those  which  occur  in  the  area  under  consideration  in 
this  work  are  all  viviparous,  except  the  ones  belonging  to  the  genus 
Rivulus. 

Mr.  Regan  of  the  British  Museum  has  lately  revised  the  subfamily 
PoeciliincB,  basing  his  classification  of  the  genera  on  the  modified  anal 


314    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

fin  of  the  males.  Since,  with  two  exceptions,  all  the  species  treated  of 
here  belong  to  this  subfamily,  we  have  followed  for  the  most  part 
Mr.  Regan's  classification.  However,  in  as  much  as  the  modified  anal 
fin  of  the  males  vary  so  essentially  in  different  species,  its  use  as  a  generic 
character  seems  to  us  to  lead  to  too  many  divisions,  resulting  in  nearly 
as  many  genera  as  species.  It  is,  therefore,  our  opinion  that  this  char- 
acter should  be  regarded  of  specific,  rather  than  of  generic  importance. 

KEY   TO   THE   GENERA. 

a.  Males  with  the  anal  fin  advanced  and  modified  into  an  intro- 
mittent  organ.    Species  viviparous. 

b.  Ventral  fins  similar  in  both  sexes. 

c.  Mouth  not  wholly  transverse,  the  cleft  partly  lateral;  teeth 
conical,  immovable. 

d.  Distal  portion  of  produced  rays  of  anal  fin  in  male  directed  back- 
ward, usually  with  one  or  more  retrorse  spines  or  hooks. 

Gambusia,  p.  314. 

dd.  Distal  portion  of  produced  rays  of  anal  in  male  directed  forward, 
with  or  without  antrorse  hooks.  Priapichthys,  p.  319. 

cc.  Mouth  transverse;  teeth  slightly  compressed,  movable;  the 
intromittent  organ  long  and  slender,  without  hooks  or  serrations 
at  apex.  Pceciliopsis,  p.  324. 

bb.  Ventral  fins  in  the  male  enlarged,  the  second  ray  notably  pro- 
duced; teeth  in  the  jaws  movable;  the  first  prolonged  ray  of  anal 
fin  in  male  bearing  a  small  antrorse  hook  at  apex. 

Mollienisia,  p.  326. 

aa.  Anal  fin  in  the  males  not  modified  into  an  intromittent  organ. 
Species  ©viviparous.  Rivulus,  p.  330. 

38.  Genus  Gambusia  Poey. 

Gambusia  Poey,  Memorias,  I,  1855,  382  (type  Gambusia  punctata  Poey). 
Gambusia  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1913,  981. 

Body  elongate,  moderately  compressed  in  the  female;  mouth  small, 
the  branches  of  the  lower  jaw  firmly  united;  teeth  fixed,  conical,  in 
bands,  the  outer  ones  slightly  the  larger;  branchiostegals  6;  anal  fin  of 
female  more  or  less  in  advance  of  the  dorsal;  anal  of  male  much  ad- 
vanced, its  anterior  rays  modified  into  an  intromittent  organ;  alimentary 
canal  short;  vertebrae  about  32;  viviparous. 

This  genus,  as  restricted  by  Regan,  includes  species  in  which  the 
modified  anal  of  the  male  is  about  ^  the  length  of  the  body  of  the  fish 
and  is  formed  of  three  rays. 


DEC.  28,  1916.     FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.   315 

"The  distal  segments  of  the  first  prolonged  ray  are  produced  into  processes 
directed  more  or  less  towards  its  apex;  the  anterior  branch  of  the  second  prolonged 
ray  is  slender  distally  and  at  some  distance  from  the  end  has  an  antrorse  projection 
which  may  be  termed  the  '  elbow' ;  the  posterior  branch  of  this  ray  ends  in  a  retrorse 
pointed  hook  or  barb,  and  the  segments  immediately  proximal  to  the  elbow  of  the 
anterior  branch  are  produced  backwards  into  serrse;  the  third  prolonged  ray  ends 
in  a  hook  more  or  less  similar  to  that  of  the  second."  (Regan) 

The  males  of  this  genus  and  related  genera  are  smaller  than  the 
females,  and  more  elongate;  they  are  apparently  fewer  in  number.  All 
Gambusia  are  small,  and  as  a  net  sufficiently  small  to  capture  females  will 
permit  the  males  to  pass  through  it,  the  few  males  taken  by  the 
collector  may  not  indicate  their  true  ratio.  Many  of  the  species  of  this 
genus  live  in  swamps  and  lowland  streams,  but  a  few  species  throughout 
Mexico  and  Central  America  are  found  in  clear  mountain  streams  at  as 
high  an  altitude  as  any  fishes  are  found.  Gambusia  feed  chiefly  on 
insects  and  small  Crustacea.  To  some  of  the  species  are  credited  the 
eating  of  mosquito  larvae. 

We  here  tentatively  refer  to  this  genus  2  species,  G.  episcopi 
and  G.  cascajalensis,  that  do  not  have  any  definite  retrorse  hooks 
on  the  distal  portion  of  the  intromittent  organ,  but  they  agree  in 
other  respects  with  this  genus. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Intromittent  organ  of  male  with  2  strong  retrorse  hooks  at  apex, 
and  anteriorly  with  strong  serrations;  each  scale  with  a  dark  dot, 
forming  lines  along  the  rows  of  scales;  dorsal  and  caudal  with 
black  spots,  forming  bars.  nicaraguensis,  p.  316. 

aa.  Intromittent  organ  of  male  without  retrorse  hooks  or  strong 
serrations  at  apex;  no  dark  lines  along  the  rows  of  scales;  anal 
fin  with  a  black  spot  at  base,  which  may  or  may  not  be  extended 
to  tip  of  rays. 

b.  Body  rather  robust,  the  depth  3.2  to  4.1  in  length;  caudal  ped- 
uncle 1.15  to  1.6  in  head;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female  over  or 
slightly  anterior  to  vertical  from  middle  of  anal;  anal  fin  not 
falcate;  skin  underneath  the  scales  strongly  pigmented,  mark- 
ing the  margins  of  the  scales;  sides  with  more  or  less  distinct 
dark  spots  or  bars.     Largest  females  52  mm.  in  length. 

episcopi,  p.  317. 

bb.  Body  slender,  the  depth  3.7  to  4.5  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  1.7 
to  2  in  head;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female  over  posterior  rays  of 
anal;  anal  more  or  less  falcate;  the  rows  of  scales  very  indis- 
tinctly marked;  sides  without  spots  or  bars.  Largest  female  62 
mm.  in  length.  cascajalensis,  p.  318. 


316    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

54.  Ganibusia  nicaraguensis  Gunther. 

Gambusia  nicaraguensis  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  VI,  1866, 336,  and 

Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1868,  483,  PI.  82,  fig.  3  (Lake  Nicaragua); 

Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896,  682; 

Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1907,  96  (Lake  Nicaragua;  El 

Hule,  Mexico),  and  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1913,  985,  fig.  168  A 

(Lake  Nicaragua;  El  Hule  and  Coaxacoalcos,  Mexico). 
Paragambusia  nicaraguensis  Meek,  Field  Col.  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  V, 

1904,  133  (Otopa;  Boca  del  Rio;  El  Hule;  Obispo;  Perez). 

Head 3.3  to 3. 8;  depth 3. 3  to 3. 8;  D.  7018;  A.  loom;  scales  29 to 31. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  upper  profile  from  snout  to  dorsal 
straight  or  slightly  convex;  head  rather  low,  flat  above;  snout  short,  2.7 
to  3.8  in  head;  eye  2.8  to  3.5;  interorbital  2  to  2.9;  mouth  very  small, 
the  gape  extending  only  about  half  way  to  eye;  teeth  in  jaws  in  villiform 
bands;  gill-rakers  short,  about  14  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales 
moderate,  cycloid,  extending  forward  to  eyes;  caudal  peduncle  strongly 
compressed,  its  least  depth  1.5  to  1.8  in  head;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female 
over  or  slightly  behind  base  of  last  ray  of  anal,  or  about  midway  between 
posterior  margin  of  eye  and  tip  of  caudal,  in  male  notably  behind  base  of 
last  ray  of  anal  and  about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  tip  of  caudal ; 
caudal  fin  rounded;  anal  fin  in  female  inserted  somewhat  nearer  tip  of 
snout  than  tip  of  caudal,  its  outer  margin  concave,  in  adult  male  it  is 
inserted  about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal,  the 
longest  modified  ray  2.6  to  2.8  in  body,  the  first  produced  ray  with 
strong  serrations  on  distal  portion  and  the  posterior  branch  of  second 
and  third  produced  rays  each  with  a  strong  retrorse  hook  at  apex;  ventral 
fins  small,  reaching  origin  of  anal  in  female,  and  past  origin  of  anal  in 
male;  pectoral  fins  moderate,  1.5  to  1.85  in  head. 


FIG.  4.    DISTAL  PART  OF  INTROMITTENT  ORGAN  OF  Gambusia  nicoragutnsis  Gunther. 

(Greatly  magnified.) 

Color  greenish;  each  scale  on  upper  part  of  sides  with  a  dark  dot, 
forming  lines  along  the  rows  of  scales.  Dorsal  and  caudal  with  black 
spots  forming  bars;  other  fins  unmarked. 

Of  this  species  we  have  over  100  specimens.  The  largest  female  is 
45  and  the  largest  male  27  mm.  in  length.  Nearly  all  of  our  specimens 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    317 

are  from  brackish  water  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  We  have  a  single  female 
specimen  from  brackish  water  from  the  Pacific  coast,  which  we  doubtfully 
refer  to  this  species. 

Habitat:  Southern  Mexico  south  to  Panama. 

55.  Gambusia  episcopl  Steindachner. 

Gantbusia  episcopi  Steindachner,  Sitzb.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  LXXVII, 
1878,  387,  PI.  II,  figs.  3  &  4  (Obispo,  Panama) ;  Jordan  &  Evermann, 
Bull.  U.   S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896,  683  (Ditches  on  the  Isth- 
mus of  Panama,  Obispo   Station);  Garman,  Mem.  Mus.  Comp. 
Zool.,  XIX,  1895,  88  (Panama  Railroad  between  Gorgona  and 
Matachin);  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1907,  96. 
Gambusia  latipunctata  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field   Mus.  Nat.   Hist. 
Pub.,  Zool.  Sen,  X,  1913,  87  (Araijan,  Panama). 
Head 3. i  to 3.5;  depth 3. 2  to 4.1;  D.  8 or  9;  A.  9  or  10;  scales  26  to  28. 
Body  rather  robust;  profile  from  snout  to  nape  straight,  from  nape 
to  dorsal  slightly  convex;  head  flat  above;  snout  rather  short  3.2  to  4 
in  head;  eye  3  to  3.7;  interorbital  2  to  2.6;  mouth  moderate,  the  cleft 
reaching  about  half  the  distance  to  eye;  teeth  in  the  jaws  pointed,  in 
bands,  the  outer  ones  scarcely  enlarged;  scales  large,  cycloid,  extending 
forward  to  eyes,  6  longitudinal  rows  between  anterior  part  of  base  of 
dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  caudal  peduncle  strongly  compressed,  its  least 
depth,  1.15  to  1.6  in  head;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female  over  middle  of  base 
of  anal,  or  slightly  anterior  to  this  point,  and  somewhat  nearer  anterior 
margin  of  eye  than  tip  of  caudal;  in  the  adult  male  the  origin  of  the 
dorsal  is  a  little  nearer  end  of  snout  than  tip  of  caudal;  caudal  fin 
rounded;  anal  fin  in  female  usually  inserted  a  little  nearer  end  of  snout 
than  tip  of  caudal,  the  anterior  rays  scarcely  produced;  in  the  adult 
male  the  origin  of  the  anal  is  slightly  nearer  base  of  caudal  than  end  of 
snout,  the  modified  portion  of  anal  failing  to  reach  base  of  caudal  by 
about  the  length  of  postorbital  part  of  head,  equal  to  or  a  little  longer 
than  head,  3.4  to  3.85  in  length  of  body,  the  apex  scarcely  bent  backward, 
no  hooks,  the  two  branches  of  the  second  ray  and  the  third  ray  of  about 
equal  length  and  the  anterior  ray  only  slightly  shorter  than  the  second 
and  third;  ventral  fins  rather  small,  reaching  vent  in  female,  reaching 
to  or  past  origin  of  anal  in  male;  pectoral  fins  reaching  slightly  past  base 
of  ventral,  1.3  to  1.55  in  head. 

Color  rather  variable,  apparently  depending  largely  upon  the  clear- 
ness of  the  water  in  which  they  live.  The  sexes  similarly  colored, 
olivaceous,  with  dusky  punctulations,  which  are  mostly  on  the  skin 
underneath  the  scales,  making  it  appear  as  if  the  scales  were  margined 
with  dark;  this  dark  coloration  is  much  more  prominent  on  some  in- 


3i 8    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

dividuals  than  others;  sides  with  more  or  less  distinct  dark  spots.  In 
the  specimens  in  which  they  are  most  distinct  they  form  short,  vertical 
bars,  and  in  others  they  appear  as  quadrate  spots.  Dorsal  fin  with 
black  chromatophores  preceding  each  ray,  forming  a  dark  bar  near  the 
base;  interradial  membranes  between  the  posterior  rays  of  anal  with 
black  chromatophores,  forming  a  dark  spot  at  base  of  fin,  these  chro- 
matophores may  or  may  not  be  extended  on  the  rays  and  up  the  fin. 
All  intergradations  from  an  obscure  spot  at  base  of  the  rays  to  a  promi- 
nent spot,  with  the  black  extending  nearly  to  the  tips  of  the  rays,  occur. 
A  fairly  common  species  on  both  slopes  of  Panama,  occurring  mainly 
in  the  upper  courses  of  creeks.  Numerous  specimens  are  at  hand.  The 


FIG.  5.    DISTAL  PART  OF  INTROMITTENT  ORGAN  OF  Gambusia  tpiscoti  Steindachner. 

(Greatly  magnified.) 

largest  female  is  52  and  the  largest  male  23  mm.  in  length.  It  was  not 
taken  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  or  Rio  Bayano  basins. 

Further  study  of  our  material  convinces  us  that  the  form  we  de- 
scribed as  Gambusia  latipunctata  in  1913  intergrades  with  the  present 
species  and  is  therefore  not  valid. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama,  north  of  the  Rio  Bayano. 

56.  Gambusia  cascajalensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Gambusia  cascajalensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.   Nat.   Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  86  (Rio  Cascajal,  Porto  Bello,  Panama). 

Head  3.2  to  3.9;  depth  3.7  to  4.5;  D.  7  or  8;  A.  10;  scales  28  to  30. 

Body  rather  slender;  the  profile  straight  over  the  head,  slightly 
convex  from  nape  to  dorsal;  head  rather  flat  above;  snout  moderate, 
3.1  to  3.35  in  head;  eye  2.8  to  3.25;  interorbital  2.1  to  2.4;  mouth  rather 
small,  the  cleft  extending  about  one-third  the  distance  to  eye;  teeth  in 
the  jaws  pointed,  in  bands,  the  outer  ones  slightly  enlarged;  scales 
moderate,  cycloid,  extending  forward  on  snout  and  on  base  of  caudal 
fin,  7  longitudinal  rows  between  anterior  part  of  base  of  dorsal  and  base 
of  anal;  caudal  peduncle  strongly  compressed,  its  least  depth  1.7  to  2 
in  head;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female  over  posterior  rays  of  anal,  and  about 
midway  between  middle  of  eye  and  tip  of  caudal,  in  the  male  its  origin 


DEC.  28,1916.     FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    319 

is  slightly  nearer  tip  of  caudal  than  tip  of  snout;  caudal  fin  rounded; 
anal  fin  in  female  inserted  a  little  nearer  tip  of  snout  than  tip  of  caudal, 
the  anterior  rays  somewhat  produced;  in  the  adult  male  the  origin  of 
the  anal  is  about  equidistant  from  middle  of  eye  and  base  of  caudal,  the 
modified  portion  rather  short,  not  nearly  reaching  base  of  caudal,  its 
structure  as  in  G.  episcopi;  ventral  fins  reaching  to  or  slightly  past  vent 
in  the  female  and  well  past  the  origin  of  the  anal  in  the  male;  pectoral 
fins  reaching  a  little  past  base  of  ventrals,  1.2  to  1.5  in  head. 

Color  plain  olivaceous;  the  dark  pigment  underneath  the  scales 
marking  the  rows  of  scales,  which  are  so  prominent  in  G.  episcopi,  is 
very  indistinct  in  the  present  species;  sides  without  spots  or  bars.  The 
tip  of  dorsal  black;  anal  fin  with  a  black  spot  at  base,  which  is  usually 
extended  on  2  to  5  rays  of  the  fin. 

Of  this  species  there  are  numerous  specimens  in  the  present  collec- 
tion. The  largest  female  at  hand  is  62  and  the  largest  male  43  mm.  in 
length.  Only  a  few  of  our  specimens  are  from  the  Pacific  slope  of  Pana- 
ma, and  it  appears  to  be  comparatively  rare  in  the  Rio  Chagres  Basin, 
but  it  is  abundant  in  some  small  coastal  streams  at  Porto  Bello.  It  was 
not  taken  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  or  Rio  Bayano  basins. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama,  north  of  the  Rio  Bayano. 

39.  Genus  Priapichthys  Regan. 

Priapichthys  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1913,  991  (type  Gambusia 

annectens  Regan). 

This  genus  differs  from  Gambusia  in  that  the  modified  anal  fin  of  the 
male  is  longer,  its  tip  nearly  reaching  the  caudal  fin,  and  it  is  differently 
formed;  the  terminal  part  is  hooked  forward  and  the  prolonged  rays 
taper  distally  and  have  no  specially  modified  segments,  except  the  usual 
serrae  of  the  posterior  branch  of  the  second;  the  first  prolonged  ray  does 
not  extend  to  the  apex,  and  the  hook  is  supported  by  the  anterior 
branch  of  the  second  and  third  rays.  (Regan)  Origin  of  the  dorsal 
fin  above  the  anal.  We  have  tentatively  referred  one  species  (P. 
panamensis} ,  which  does  not  possess  definite  antrorse  hooks  on  the 
intromittent  organ,  to  this  genus. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  First  produced  ray  of  intromittent  organ  with  a  recurved  spur 
below  its  apex,  directed  upward  and  forward;  the  apex  of  this 
organ  curved  forward;  male  with  a  jet  black  spot  about  the  size  of 
pupil  on  sides  slightly  in  advance  of  vertical  from  origin  of  dorsal; 
dorsal  with  a  dusky  spot  at  base  on  posterior  one-fourth  of  fin. 


320    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

b.  Body  posteriorly  with  6  to  8  dark  cross-bars,  present  in  both 
sexes.  tridentiger,  p.  320. 

bb.  Body  in  females  plain,  no  cross-bars,  male  with  very  indistinct 
cross-bars.  tridentiger  cana,  p.  321. 

aa.  First  produced  ray  of  intromittent  organ  without  a  recurved 
spur  below  its  apex. 

c.  First  produced  ray  of  anal  anteriorly  serrate  below  apex,  and 
bearing  a  hook  at  apex  directed  downward  and  forward,  the 
anterior  branch  of  the  second  produced  ray  curved  forward  at 
apex;  a  dark  area  at  base  of  anterior  rays  of  anal. 

dariensis,  p.  321. 

cc.  Intromittent  organ  without  hooks  or  serrations,  the  apex  curved 
forward;  a  dark  area  about  vent.  panamensis  sp.  nov.,  p.  322. 

57.  Priapichthys  tridentiger  (Carman). 

Gambusia  tridentiger  Garman,  Mem.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  XIX,  1895, 

89,  PI.  IV,  fig.  10,  teeth  (Isthmus  of  Panama) ;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent. 

Amer.,  Pisces,  1907,  95. 
Priapichthys  tridentiger  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1913,  992. 

Head  3.55  to  4;  depth  3.1  to  5.35;  D.  7  or  8;  A.  9  or  10;  scales  28  to  30. 

Body  compressed;  profile  straight  from  snout  to  nape,  then  convex 
to  dorsal;  head  flat  above;  snout  short,  3.75  to  4.3  in  head;  eye  2.85  to 
3.34;  interorbital  1.9  to  3;  mouth  small,  cleft  reaching  about  one-third 
the  distance  to  eye;  teeth  in  jaws  pointed,  in  bands,  the  outer  series 
somewhat  enlarged;  scales  moderate,  cycloid,  extending  forward  to 
eyes;  caudal  peduncle  strongly  compressed,  its  least  depth  1.45  to  2  in 
head;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female  over  the  posterior  rays  of  the  anal  and 
about  equidistant  from  posterior  margin  of  eye  and  tip  of  caudal,  or 
slightly  nearer  the  former,  in  the  male  its  origin  is  about  midway  between 
posterior  margin  of  eye  and  base  of  caudal;  caudal  fin  rounded;  anal 
fin  in  female  inserted  somewhat  nearer  base  of  caudal  than  posterior 
margin  of  eye,  its  posterior  margin  concave  at  least  in  large  examples; 
in  the  adult  male  the  anal  fin  is  inserted  notably  nearer  tip  of  snout  than 
base  of  caudal,  the  longest  produced  ray  failing  to  reach  base  of  caudal 
by  about  an  eye's  diameter,  2  to  2.3  in  length  of  body;  the  apex  of  the 
intromittent  organ  curved  forward,  the  first  produced  ray  with  a  spur  a 
short  distance  below  its  apex  which  is  directed  downward  and  forward; 
ventral  fins  rather  small,  reaching  vent  in  female,  and  past  origin  of  anal 
in  the  male;  pectoral  fins  reaching  slightly  past  base  of  ventrals,  1.2  to 
1.9  in  head. 

Color  of  female  olivaceous;  scales  with  pale  margins,  next  to  the 
margins  is  a  dark  area  formed  by  dusky  points;  sides  of  caudal  portion 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    321 

of  body,  i.e.,  from  anal  fin  backward,  with  from  6  to  8  dark  cross-bars;  a 
dark  line  from  last  anal  ray  to  base  of  caudal;  a  dark  area  at  base  of 
anterior  rays  of  anal,  not  extending  on  fin;  posterior  rays  of  anal  with  a 
dusky  spot  near  middle  and  another  at  tips;  dorsal  with  a  dusky  spot 
on  posterior  one-fourth  near  base  of  rays.  Color  of  male  very  similar, 
but  the  cross-bars  less  distinct,  and  a  jet  black  spot  about  the  size  of  the 
pupil  present  on  side  slightly  in  advance  of  vertical  from  origin  of  dorsal; 


FIG.  6.    DISTAL  PART  OF  INTROMITTENT  ORGAN  OF  Priapichtkys  iridtntigv  (Gannan). 

(Greatly  magnified.) 

no  dark  spot  at  base  of  anterior  rays  of  anal.  Specimens  from  Taboga 
Island  paler  with  the  cross-bars  less  distinct  in  both  sexes. 

Of  this  species  we  have  numerous  specimens  from  both  slopes  of 
Panama,  but  none  from  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin.  The  largest  female  is 
45  and  the  largest  male  20  mm.  in  length. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama,  and  Taboga  Island. 

58.  Priapichthys  tridentiger  cana  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 
Gambusia  cana  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field.   Mus.   Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  87  (Rio  Satiganti,  Cana,  Panama). 

Head  3.8  to  4.25;  depth  3.2  to  4.35;  D.  7  or  8;  A.  10;  scales  29  to  31. 

This  variety  agrees  with  P.  tridentiger  in  all  respects,  except  in  color. 
In  the  female  there  are  no  dark  cross-bars  on  posterior  part  of  body. 
In  the  male  the  characteristic  dark  spot  of  P.  tridentiger  on  side  above 
the  base  of  anal  is  present,  but  the  cross-bars  are  less  distinct. 

This  form  is  represented  by  68  specimens  from  the  Rio  Satiganti, 
one  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Rio  Tuyra.  The  largest  female  is  40 
and  the  largest  male  23  mm.  in  length. 

59.  Priapichthys  dariensis  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

Gambusia  dariensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  88  (Rio  Capeti). 

Head 3.4 to 4.1 5;  depth 3. 4 to 4. 5;  D.  7or8;  A.9ono;  scales  28to3i. 

Body  moderately  compressed;  dorsal  profile  straight  over  head, 
slightly  convex  from  nape  to  dorsal;  head  flat  above;  snout  short,  3.3  to 
4.15  in  head;  eye  3  to  4.35;  interorbital  2.2  to  2.4;  mouth  small,  the  gape 


322    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

reaching  about  one-third  the  distance  to  eye;  teeth  in  the  jaws  pointed, 
in  narrow  bands,  the  outer  ones  somewhat  enlarged;  scales  moderate, 
cycloid,  extending  forward  to  the  eyes;  caudal  peduncle  strongly  com- 
pressed, its  least  depth  1.4  to  1.7  in  head;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female  just 
behind  base  of  last  ray  of  anal  and  about  equidistant  from  posterior 
margin  of  eye  and  tip  of  caudal  or  slightly  nearer  the  latter;  in  the  male 
this  fin  is  somewhat  nearer  posterior  margin  of  eye  than  tip  of  caudal; 
caudal  fin  rounded;  anal  fin  in  the  female  inserted  about  equidistant 
from  posterior  margin  of  eye  and  base  of  caudal,  its  posterior  margin 
nearly  straight;  in  the  adult  male  this  fin  is  inserted  a  little  nearer  tip  of 
snout  than  base  of  caudal,  the  longest  modified  ray  2.6  to  2.7  in  body; 
the  first  ray  strongly  serrate,  with  a  hook  at  apex  directed  downward 
and  forward,  the  anterior  branch  of  second  produced  ray  curved  for- 
ward, the  second  branch  shorter;  ventral  fins  rather  small,  reaching 
origin  of  anal  in  female  and  past  this  point  in  male;  pectoral  fins  i.i  to 
1.4  in  head. 

Color  of  female  plain  olivaceous;  scales  on  back  and  upper  part  of 
sides  with  dark  punctulations;  no  black  spot  on  sides  or  on  fins;  a  dark 
area  at  base  of  anterior  ray  of  anal,  and  a  dark  line  from  anal  fin  to  base 


FIG.  7.    DISTAL  PART  OF  INTROMITTENT  ORGAN  OF  Priapictukys  daritnsis 

(Meek  &  Hildebrand).    (Greatly  magnified.) 

of  caudal.    The  male  with  a  variable  number  (often  as  many  as  20)  of 
narrow,  dark  cross-bars  on  sides;  otherwise  essentially  as  in  females. 

There  are  over  100  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  present  collection. 
The  largest  female  is  36  and  the  largest  male  27  mm.  in  length.  This 
species  was  taken  in  the  Rio  Juan  Diaz,  Rio  Bayano,  and  Rio  Tuyra 
basins. 

60.  Priapichthys  panamensis  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8950,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  24  mm.;  Chame  Point, 
Panama. 

Head  3.55  to  4;  depth  3.65  to  4.3;  D.  8;  A.  10;  scales  29  to  31. 

Body  moderately  compressed;  profile  very  gently  convex  from  snout 
to  origin  of  dorsal;  head  broad,  flat  above;  snout  short,  3.75  to  4.5  in 
head;  eye  2.65  to  3.3;  interorbital  1.75  to  2.4;  mouth  small,  the  cleft 


DEC.  28,  1916.     FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    323 

reaching  about  one-third  the  distance  to  eye;  teeth  pointed,  in  bands  in 
the  jaws,  the  outer  ones  slightly  enlarged;  scales  moderate,  cycloid,  ex- 
tending to  tip  of  snout  and  on  base  of  caudal;  caudal  peduncle  strongly 
compressed,  its  least  depth  1.5  to  1.8  in  head;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female 
over  base  of  last  ray  of  anal,  and  about  midway  between  posterior 
margin  of  eye  and  base  of  caudal;  in  the  male  the  origin  of  the  dorsal  is 
about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal;  caudal  rather 
pointed;  anal  fin  in  female  inserted  considerably  nearer  end  of  snout 
than  tip  of  caudal,  its  posterior  margin  convex;  origin  of  anal  in  adult 
male  is  about  half  as  far  from  end  of  snout  as  from  tip  of  caudal,  the 
produced  portion  failing  to  reach  base  of  caudal  by  about  the  length 
of  post-orbital  part  of  head,  its  length  2  to  2.25  in  body,  the  anterior 
branch  of  the  second  produced  ray  the  longest,  directed  forward  at 
apex,  the  first  produced  ray  a  little  longer  than  the  third,  no  spur; 
ventral  fins  reaching  to  or  slightly  past  vent  in  female,  and  notably 
past  origin  of  anal  in  male;  pectoral  fins  reaching  at  least  to  middle 
of  ventrals,  i  to  1.4  in  head. 

Color  of  the  sexes  similar,  grayish  green;  posterior  part  of  body 
with  4  or  5  indistinct,  dark  cross-bars;  a  dark  line  from  anal  to  base  of 


FIG.  8.    DISTAL  PART  OF  INTROMITTENT  ORGAN  OF  Prioptchthys  panamensis  sp.  nov. 

(Greatly  magnified.) 

caudal;  dorsal  fin  with  dark  chromatophores  at  base  of  the  posterior  rays 
and  again  at  the  tips  of  these  rays;  usually  with  a  more  or  less  distinct 
dark  area  about  vent. 

Of  this  species  we  have  37  specimens.  The  largest  female  is  37 
and  the  largest  male  24  mm.  in  length.  One  specimen  is  from  the  Rio 
Chame  and  all  the  others  from  a  brackish  pool  at  Chame  Point  on  the 
Pacific  coast. 

In  general  appearance  this  fish  resembles  Priapichihys  tridentiger, 
but  the  intromittent  organ  of  the  male  is  quite  different,  the  caudal  fin 
is  more  pointed  and  bears  more  scales  on  its  base,  the  color  is  paler,  and 
the  cross-bars  are  fewer. 

Type  a  male  24  mm.  in  length,  from  Chame  Point. 


324    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

40.  Genus  Poeciliopsis  Regan. 

Pceciliopsis  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1913,  996  (type  Pcecilia 

•presidionis  Jordan  &  Culver). 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  head  more  or  less  depressed;  mouth 
small,  the  cleft  transverse;  teeth  in  the  jaws  in  2  series  or  bands,  de- 
pressable,  the  outer  ones  largest,  slightly  compressed;  the  intromittent 
organ  long  and  slender,  without  hooks  or  serrations  at  apex;  ventral 
fins  not  modified  in  the  male. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  The  three  produced  rays  of  anal,  as  well  as  both  branches  of  the 
second,  all  of  about  equal  length  and  reaching  to  apex  of  intro- 
mittent organ,  failing  quite  notably  to  reach  base  of  caudal  when 
deflexed;  no  dark  area  over  vent;  young  of  60  mm.  and  less  in 
length  with  dark  cross-bars  on  posterior  part  of  body;  fins  un- 
marked, elongatus,  p.  324. 

aa.  The  first  and  the  anterior  branch  of  the  second  produced  ray  of 
anal  fin  in  male  of  about  equal  length  and  extending  to  apex 
of  intromittent  organ,  the  posterior  branch  of  the  second 
and  the  third  produced  ray  notably  shorter;  intromittent 
organ  when  deflexed  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  base  of  caudal; 
a  dark  area  over  vent;  indistinct  cross-bars  on  body;  fins  dusky, 
the  dorsal  with  blackish  basal  band  and  dark  edge. 

isihmensis,  p.  325. 
61.  Poeciliopsis  elongatus  (Gunther). 

Pcecilia  elongata  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  VI,  1866, 342  (Panama), 

and  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  VI,  1869,  484,  PL  LXXXV,  fig.  2 

(Panama);  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XL VII, 

1896,  697;  Gilbert  &  Starks,  Mem.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  1904,  50  (Brackish 

sloughs  about  Panama) ;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1907, 102. 

Mollienisia  elongata  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1913, 1013  (Panama). 

?Heterandria  colombianus  Eigenmann  &  Henn,  Indiana  Univ.  Studies, 
No.  16,  1912,  27  (Rio  Dagua,  Colombia);  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc. 
London,  1913,  996. 

?P&ciliopsis  colombianus  Henn,  Ann.    Carnegie   Mus.,  X,  1916,  120 
(Rio  Dagua,  Colombia). 
Head  3.4  to  4.4;  depth  3.4  to  4;  D.  8  to  10,  usually  9;  A.  8  or  9;  scales 

28  to  33. 

Body  elongate,  robust,  posteriorly  compressed;  head  depressed,  flat 

above;  snout  broad,  3.8  to  4.55  in  head;  eye  3.33  to  4.6;  interorbital  2 

to  2.2;  mouth  transverse;  teeth  in  outer  series  close-set,  slightly  com- 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.     325 

pressed  or  pointed,  curved  inward,  this  series  is  followed  by  a  narrow 
band  of  minute  teeth;  scales  large,  cycloid,  8  or  9  rows  between  base  of 
dorsal  and  anal;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female  variable,  usually  about 
midway  between  end  of  snout  and  tip  of  caudal,  and  posterior  to  vertical 
from  origin  of  anal ;  its  origin  in  the  male  is  at  about  the  same  point  as 
in  female,  but  the  fin  is  higher;  caudal  fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin 
rounded;  anal  fin  in  female  usually  inserted  about  midway  between  tip 
of  snout  and  base  of  caudal;  anal  fin  in  adult  male  inserted  nearer  end 
of  snout  than  base  of  caudal,  the  modified  portion  very  long,  slender, 
more  or  less  needle-shaped,  2.35  to  2.7  in  length;  ventral  fins  similar  in 
both  sexes,  usually  failing  to  reach  vent  in  large  females,  reaching  oppo- 
site base  of  anal  in  males;  pectoral  fins  moderate,  i  to  1.25  in  head. 

Color  of  sexes  similar,  olivaceous.  Large  specimens  without  cross- 
bars; young  of  60  mm.  and  less  in  length  with  narrow,  dark  cross-bars 
on  posterior  portion  of  sides.  Fins  unmarked. 

Of  this  species  we  have  80  specimens.  The  largest  female  is  150 
and  the  largest  male  60  mm.  in  length.  It  was  taken  by  us  only  in 
brackish  water  about  the  city  of  Panama  where  it  is  fairly  common. 


FIG.  9.    DISTAL  PART  OF  INTROMITTENT  ORGAN  OF  Pcstiiiopsis  elongatus  (Gunther). 

(Greatly  magnified.) 

We  have  examined  2  female  specimens,  paratypes,  of  P.  colombianus 
(Eigenmann  &  Henn).  We  do  not  find  that  they  differ  essentially  from 
the  present  species.  However,  in  the  absence  of  male  specimens  of  the 
former  their  identity  with  P.  elongatus  remains  doubtful. 

Habitat:   Pacific  coast  of  Panama  and  probably  of  Colombia. 

62.  Pceciliopsis  isthmensis  Regan. 

Paeciliopsis    isthmensis    Regan,   Proc.  Zool.   Soc.   London,    1913,   997 

(Colon,  Panama). 

Head  3.5  to  3.7;  depth  2.5  to  3;  D.  9  or  10;  A.  10;  scales  26  to  28. 

Body  robust;  mouth  small;  teeth  in  narrow  bands;  interorbital  width 
1.8  to  2  in  head;  eye  3  to  3.2;  origin  of  dorsal  fin  midway  between 
anterior  margin  of  the  eye  and  base  of  caudal,  its  longest  ray  1.5  in 
head;  origin  of  anal  below  fourth  or  fifth  ray  of  dorsal,  its  first  branched 
ray  1.3  in  head;  pectoral  a  little  shorter  than  the  head;  least  depth  of 
caudal  peduncle  1.3  to  1.5  in  head;  in  the  male  the  origin  of  the  dorsal  is 


326    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

midway  between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  base  of  caudal,  or  nearer  the 
former;  the  modified  anal  reaching  quite  to  caudal  fin. 

Color  olivaceous,  scales  dark  edged;  a  blackish  spot  above  the  vent; 
fins  dusky,  the  dorsal  with  a  blackish  basal  band  and  a  dark  edge.  The 
male  with  indistinct  cross-bars  on  the  body.  Females  35  to  60  mm. 
in  length;  males  35  to  42. 

This  species  was  not  taken  by  us  at  Colon.  It  is  probably  identical 
with  the  species  described  by  Meek*  as  Peecilia  pittieri  from  Costa  Rica. 

41.  Genus  Mollienisia  LeSueur. 

Mollienisia  LeSueur,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1821,  3,  PI.  Ill  (type 

Mollienisia  latipinna  LeSueur). 

Body  oblong  to  rather  robust;  mouth  small,  transverse,  with  weak 
jaws;  teeth  small,  in  bands,  the  outer  series  in  each  jaw  movable; 
branchiostegals  5;  anal  fin  of  female  slightly  in  advance  to  slightly 
behind  dorsal;  dorsal  fin  of  males  often  very  high;  dorsal  fin  of  7  to  1  6 
rays;  anal  fin  of  male  modified  into  an  intromittent  organ,  the  first 
prolonged  ray  bearing  a  small  antrorse  spine  at  or  near  its  end,  the  last 
ray  bearing  a  process  directed  outward  and  towards  the  base  of  the  fin; 
intestinal  canal  long  and  with  numerous  convolutions;  vertebrae  about 


KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Dorsal  fin  with  7  to  1  1  rays. 

b.  Origin  of  dorsal  slightly  in  advance  of  anal. 

c.  Dorsal  fin  with  10  or  n  rays;  anal  with  10  rays;  dorsal  and 
caudal  fins  spotted  with  black.  sphenops,  p.  326. 

cc.  Dorsal  fin  with  7  or  8  rays;  anal  fin  with  8  or  9  rays;  dorsal  fin 
with  a  dark  spot  on  its  base,  the  rest  of  dorsal  and  caudal  fin 
unspotted.  caucana,  p.  329. 

bb.  Origin  of  dorsal  slightly  behind  that  of  anal;  dorsal  and  caudal 
with  a  series  of  transverse  spots.  cuneata,  p.  329. 

aa.  Dorsal  rays  n  to  13;  origin  of  dorsal  a  little  nearer  base  of 
caudal  than  end  of  snout.  formosa,  p.  330. 

63.  Mollienisia  sphenops  (Cuvier  &  Valenciennes).     Paribiba. 
Pcecilia  sphenops  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XVIII,  1846, 

130,  PI.  526  (Vera  Cruz,  Mexico);  Gtinther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus., 

VI,  1866,  343   (Vera  Cruz,  Mexico);  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull. 

U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,   1896,  694;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer., 

Pisces,  1907,  102  (Streams  near  Panama). 

*Meek,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1912,  71. 


DEC.  28,  1916.     FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.   327 

Xiphophorus  gillii  Kner  &  Steindachner,  Abhandl.  K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss. 

Munchen,  X,  1864,  28,  PI.  IV,  fig.  i  (Rio  Chagres,  Panama). 
Platypcecilus  mentalis  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1876,  335  (Panama) ; 

Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896,  686. 
Pcecilia  boucardi  Steindachner,   Sitzb.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  LXXVI, 

1878,  386,  PI.  Ill,  figs.  2  &  3  (Colon,  Panama) ;  Jordan  &  Evermann, 

Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896,  695;  Gilbert  &  Starks,  Mem. 

Cal.  Acad.  Sci.,  1904,  51  (Streams  near  Panama). 
Pcecilia   gillii   Garman,    Mem.    Mus.  Comp.    Zool.,    XIX,   1895,  63 

(Panama). 
Mollienisia  sphenops  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1913,  1012,  fig. 

173,  F  (in  part);  Henn,  Ann.  Carnegie  Mus.,  X,  1916,  136  (Carta- 
gena, Colombia). 

Head  3. 15  to  4;  depth  2.65  to  3. 75;  D.  ioor  n;  A.  10;  scales  27  to  30. 

Body  compressed;  head  depressed,  flat  above;  snout  broad,  its 
length  3.2  to  4  in  head;  eye  3.1  to  3.9;  interorbital  1.85  to  2.4;  mouth 
small,  the  cleft  transverse;  teeth  in  the  outer  series  slender,  movable, 
somewhat  broadened  and  hooked  at  apex;  inner  teeth  in  a  band,  small, 
tricuspid;  scales  moderate,  cycloid,  8  longitudinal  rows  between  base  of 
dorsal  and  anal;  origin  of  dorsal  in  female  a  little  in  advance  of  anal,  and 
somewhat  nearer  end  of  snout  than  tip  of  caudal,  its  base  about  equal  to 
length  of  longest  rays;  in  the  male  this  fin  is  much  higher  and  the  base 
is  equal  to  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  longest  rays;  caudal  fin 
scaly  at  base,  its  margin  rounded;  anal  fin  in  female  inserted  about 
equidistant  from  end  of  snout  and  tip  of  caudal,  the  anterior  rays  not 
produced;  in  the  male  this  fin  is  inserted  equidistant  from  end  of  snout 
and  base  of  caudal,  the  produced  portion  1.2  to  1.45  in  head,  the  first 
and  the  two  branches  of  the  second  produced  ray  of  about  equal  length, 
the  anterior  ray  bearing  a  small  antrorse  hook  at  apex,  the  third  with  a 
process  directed  downward  and  backward  at  its  apex;  in  advance  of  the 
intromittent  organ  lies  a  sort  of  hood  which  is  not  attached  to  the  distal 
portion  of  this  organ;  ventral  fins  normal  in  the  female,  reaching  vent; 
in  the  male  the  first  articulated  ray  is  produced,  reaching  notably 
beyond  base  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  rather  long,  1.05  to  1.7  in  head. 

Color  olivaceous,  dorsal  and  caudal  fins  with  dark  dots.  The  color 
of  specimens  from  salt  and  brackish  water  is  more  variable  than  those 
taken  in  fresh  water.  The  markings  on  Atlantic  slope  specimens  are 
more  distinct  than  on  those  from  the  Pacific  side.  The  color  markings 
of  specimens  from  Colon  agree  with  those  from  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico; 
most  of  the  specimens  have  a  black  spot  on  each  scale  forming  lines 
along  the  rows.  These  spots  are  seldom  present  on  the  Pacific  side 
specimens  and  when  present  are  not  very  distinct.  The  males  often  have 


328    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

the  basal  half  of  the  dorsal  and  caudal  fins  black,  the  distal  half  of  the 
latter  often  yellow,  a  condition  not  conspicuous  on  west  coast  specimens. 

The  fresh  water  individuals  are  much  more  uniform  in  color,  and 
usually  smaller  than  those  from  salt  and  brackish  water.  Those  taken 
from  fresh  water  might  be  regarded  as  a  variety  under  the  name  Mol- 
lienisia  sphenops  gillii  (Kner  &  Steindachner). 

This  species  is  represented  by  numerous  specimens  in  the  present 
collection.  The  largest  females  are  100  and  the  largest  males  78  mm. 
in  length.  It  occurs  abundantly  in  quiet  ponds  and  arms  of  the  rivers 
and  creeks  of  both  slopes  of  Panama,  but  not  in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 

The  males  of  this  species  are  so  large  that  they  are  pretty  certainly 
caught  along  with  the  females  and  do  not  escape  through  the  meshes  of 
the  net,  as  has  been  stated  of  other  viviparous  species  of  this  family, 
in  explanation  of  the  small  number  of  male  specimens  occurring  in  col- 
lections. For  this  reason  we  have  counted  2,142  specimens  collected 
at  various  points  and  on  various  dates  during  two  periods  of  the  two 
years  during  which  these  collections  were  made.  Among  this  number 
there  are  579  males  or  nearly  3.7  females  to  every  male.  The  disparity 
of  males  to  females  is,  however,  believed,  in  reality,  to  be  greater  than 
these  figures  indicate,  for  this  species  was  many  times  taken  in  such 
abundance  that  only  a  small  number  of  them  was  preserved.  In  such 


FIG.  10.    DISTAL  PART  OF  INTROMITTENT  ORGAN  OF  M oUUnisia  spkenops 

(Cuvier  &  Valenciennes).    (Greatly  magnified.) 

cases,  due  to  the  fact  that  the  males  are  more  brightly  colored  and  thus 
more  conspicuous,  it  is  quite  probable  that  more  than  their  proportion- 
ate number  was  selected,  although  we  do  not  remember  that  any  par- 
ticular attention  was  given  to  this  matter  at  the  time. 

Habitat:  Coasts  and  rivers  from  Sinaloa,  Mexico,  both  slopes  of 
Panama,  south  to  eastern  Colombia,  Venezuela  and  the  Leeward 
Islands. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    329 

64.  Mollienisia  caucana  (Steindachner). 

Girardinus  caucanus  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak;  Wiss.  Wien,  XLII, 

1880,  87,  PI.  VI,  figs.  4  &  5  (Caceres,  Colombia),  and  Denkschr.  K. 

Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  LXXII,  1902,  146  (Baranquilla,  Colombia). 
P cecilia  caucana  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1908,  190. 
Mollienisia  sphenops  Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1913,  1012   (in 

part). 

Head  3.35  to  3.7;  depth  3.6  to  4;  D.  7  or  8;  A.  8  or  9;  scales  28 
to  30. 

Body  compressed;  head  slightly  depressed,  flat  above;  snout  rather 
broad,  3.2  to  4.4  in  head;  eye  3  to  3.75;  interorbital  2.3  to  2.7;  mouth 
small,  the  cleft  transverse;  teeth  and  scales  as  in  preceding  species; 
origin  of  dorsal  in  female  over  origin  of  anal,  a  little  nearer  end  of  snout 
than  tip  of  caudal;  slightly  more  anteriorly  situated  in  male;  caudal  fin 
scaly  at  base,  the  margin  rounded;  anal  fin  in  female  inserted  a  little 
nearer  end  of  snout  than  tip  of  caudal;  in  the  male  this  fin  is  inserted 
somewhat  nearer  end  of  snout  than  base  of  caudal,  the  modified  portion 
usually  about  equal  to  length  of  head,  its  structure  apparently  identical 
with  that  of  the  preceding  species;  ventral  fins  in  females  reaching  vent, 
the  outer  ray  produced  in  males,  reaching  beyond  base  of  anal;  pectoral 
fins  moderate,  1.2  to  1.66  in  head. 

Color  of  the  sexes  similar,  olivaceous;  dorsal  fin  with  a  dark  blotch 
at  base  of  the  middle  rays;  fins  otherwise  unmarked. 

This  species  is  represented  by  22  specimens  in  the  present  collection. 
The  largest  female  is  35  and  the  largest  male  30  mm.  in  length.  It 
was  taken  by  us  at  only  two  places,  Aruza  and  Cituro,  in  the  Rio  Tuyra 
Basin.  This  is  the  only  species  of  Mollienisia  collected  in  that  river 
basin. 

This  species  is  apparently  closely  related  to  M.  sphenops,  but  differs 
in  color,  and  in  the  number  of  dorsal  and  anal  rays. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  southeastern  Panama  and  the  eastern 
slope  of  Colombia. 

65.  Mollienisia  cuneata  (Carman). 

Pcecilia  cuneata  Garman,  Mem.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  XIX,  1895,  62,  PI.  V, 

fig.  3  (Turbo,  Gulf  of  Darien). 

Head  4;  D.  8  to  10;  A.  9  or  10;  scales  28  or  29. 

Body  short  and  deep;  caudal  peduncle  deep;  head  depressed,  broad 
and  flat;  snout  as  long  as  eye;  mouth  wide,  the  jaws  weak  and  loosely 
joined;  outer  series  of  teeth  slender,  oar-shaped,  movable;  inner  bands 
small,  pointed;  eye  half  interorbital  space,  its  length  3^  in  head;  origin 
of  dorsal  over  third  ray  of  anal,  midway  from  base  of  caudal  to  head: 


330    FIELD  MUSEUM  OP  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

anal  of  female  small,  its  third  ray  the  longest;  modified  anal  of  male 
shorter  than  the  head;  ventrals  small,  not  reaching  anal;  caudal  deep,  its 
posterior  margin  rounded. 

Color  brownish,  bases  of  scales  dark;  dorsal  region  dark,  the  ventral 
region  silvery;  dorsal  with  one  to  several  transverse  series  of  small  spots 
of  black,  the  fin  sometimes  black  tipped;  caudal  with  small  spots  of 
black  on  basal  half,  or  with  a  couple  of  clouded  transverse  bands;  the 
fins  uniform  or  punctulate.  (Garman.) 

This  species  was  not  seen  by  us. 

66.  Mollienisia  formosa  (Girard). 

Limia  formosa  Girard,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1859,  115  (Palo  Alto, 

Mexico). 
Mollienisia  formosa  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  VI,  1866,  349; 

Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896,  699; 

Regan,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1913,  1012  (Tampico,  Mexico;  Colon, 

Panama). 

Head  3.3  to  4;  depth  2.5  to  3;  D.  u  to  14;  A.  9  or  10;  scales  26  to  28. 

Body  rather  robust;  eye  3  to  3.5  in  head;  interorbital  1.7  to  2;  origin 
of  dorsal  a  little  nearer  the  base  of  caudal  than  the  end  of  the  snout; 
origin  of  anal  below  fourth  ray  of  dorsal;  pectoral  shorter  than  the  head; 
caudal  fin  rounded;  least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle,  1.3  to  1.6  in  head; 
modified  anal  of  male  1.3  in  head. 

Color  olivaceous;  scales  with  brown  spots;  dorsal  fin  with  transverse 
series  of  blackish  spots,  other  fins  plain. 

This  species  is  recorded  from  Colon  by  Regan.  It  does  not  occur  in 
our  collections. 

Habitat:  Atlantic  slope  of  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

42.  Genus  Rivulus  Poey. 

Rivulus  Poey,  Memorias,  II,  1858,  307  &  383  (type  Rivulus  cylindraceus 

Poey). 
Cynodonichthys  Meek,  Field  Col.  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool  Ser.,  V,  1904,  101 

(type  Cynodonichthys  tenuis  Meek). 

Slender  fishes  with  subterete  body;  mouth  small,  the  branches  of  the 
lower  jaw  firmly  united;  teeth  conical,  in  bands,  the  outer  ones  enlarged 
and  curved;  one  or  two  teeth  on  each  side  usually  enlarged  and  canine- 
like;  margin  of  eyes  not  free;  pectorals  obtuse,  low;  caudal  rounded  or 
subtruncate;  dorsal  small,  over  posterior  part  of  the  much  longer  anal; 
oviparous;  air  bladder  large;  alimentary  canal  short,  about  %  to  & 
length  of  body. 


DEC.  28,  1916.     FISHES  OP  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBKAND.   331 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES. 
a.     Dorsal  fin  with  7  rays;  anal  with  n  or  12  rays;  depth  5  to  6  in 

length.  elegans,  p.  331. 

aa.    Dorsal  fin  with  9  or  10  rays;  anal  with  13  or  14  rays;  depth  4.35 

to  4.9  in  length.  brunneus,  p.  331. 

67.  Rivulus  elegans  Steindachner. 

Rivulus  elegans  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien,  XLII,  1880, 

85,  PI.  VI,  fig.  6  (Rio  Cauca) ;  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  8, 

X,  1912,  498  (Rio  Condoto,  Colombia),  and  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist., 

Ser.  8,  X,  1913,  471;  Henn,  Ann.  Carnegie  Mus.,  X,  1916,  108  (Rio 

Condoto  and  Rio  Truando,  Colombia). 

Head  3.33  to  3.85;  depth  5  to  6;  D.  7;  A.  n  or  12;  scales  33  to  35. 

Body  long,  slender,  posteriorly  compressed;  head  depressed,  wider 
than  deep;  snout  broad,  3.5  to  4.3  in  head;  eye  3  to  3.75;  interorbital 
broad,  2.15  to  2.6;  mouth  rather  small,  oblique;  lower  jaw  projecting; 
teeth  in  the  jaws  in  bands,  the  outer  ones  enlarged,  curved  inward; 
scales  cycloid,  with  prominent  circulae,  7  or  8  longitudinal  rows  of  scalps 
between  base  of  dorsal  and  anal;  origin  of  dorsal  over  posterior  one- 
fourth  of  anal,  and  about  midway  between  gill-opening  and  tip  of  caudal 
or  slightly  nearer  the  former,  the  base  of  the  last  ray  a  little  behind 
vertical  from  base  of  last  anal  ray;  caudal  fin  strongly  rounded;  anal  fin 
inserted  notably  nearer  tip  of  caudal  than  tip  of  snout,  the  length  of  its 
base  scarcely  equal  to  the  greatest  width  of  head;  ventral  fins  small, 
about  as  long  as  diameter  of  eye,  reaching  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins 
moderate,  not  reaching  base  of  ventrals,  1.3  to  1.8  in  head. 

Color  brownish,  sides  more  or  less  speckled  with  dark  spots.  Most 
of  our  specimens  with  a  dark  ocellus  at  base  of  upper  rays  of  caudal; 
lower  lobe  of  caudal  with  or  without  a  black  stripe  extending  from  under 
side  of  caudal  peduncle  to  end  of  caudal  rays,  forming  an  intramarginal 
bar.  Dorsal  and  anal  more  or  less  dusky. 

There  are  22  specimens  in  the  present  collection,  ranging  in  length 
from  26  to  38  mm.  All  were  taken  in  small  brooks  near  the  water  shed 
on  the  Atlantic  slope  at  Culebra. 

R.  elegans  is  very  probably  identical  with  R.  godmani  Regan. 

Habitat:   Panama,  south  to  Colombia. 

68.  Rivulus  brunneus  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Rivulus  brunneus  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 
Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  86  (Toro  Point,  Canal  Zone,  Panama). 
Head  3.3  to  3.7;  depth  4.35  to  4.9;  D.  10,  rarely  9;  A.  13  or  14,  rarely 

12;  scales  34  to  38. 


332    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Body  rather  robust,  posteriorly  compressed;  head  depressed,  wider 
than  deep;  snout  short,  3.65  to  4.25  in  head;  eye  3.2  to  3.8;  interorbital 
2.2  to  2.65;  mouth  small,  the  cleft  scarcely  lateral;  teeth  pointed,  in 
bands  in  the  jaws,  the  outer  ones  somewhat  enlarged,  curved  inward; 
scales  rather  small,  cycloid,  the  circulse  strongly  developed;  8  longitu- 
dinal rows  of  scales  between  base  of  dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  origin  of 
dorsal  over  middle  of  base  of  anal  or  slightly  posterior  to  this  point,  and 
somewhat  nearer  tip  of  caudal  than  posterior  margin  of  eye,  the 
base  of  its  last  ray  slightly  behind  vertical  from  base  of  last  ray  of 
anal;  caudal  fin  rounded;  anal  fin  inserted  midway  between  the  tip  of 
snout  and  tip  of  caudal  or  slightly  nearer  the  former,  its  margin  convex, 
the  length  of  the  base  equal  to  the  greatest  width  of  head;  ventral 
fins  small,  about  as  long  as  diameter  of  eye,  reaching  vent;  pectoral 
fins  moderate,  failing  quite  notably  to  reach  base  of  ventrals,  1.6  to  1.8 
in  head. 

Color  brownish,  sides  more  or  less  speckled  with  darker;  dorsal  and 
caudal  with  or  without  faint,  dark  spots;  a  black  stripe  from  under  side 
of  caudal  peduncle  to  end  of  caudal  rays  usually  present,  forming  an 
intramarginal  bar;  on  some  specimens  there  is  a  similar  bar  on  the 
upper  lobe  of  the  caudal  fin,  although  less  distinct.  In  life  the  upper 
parts  of  the  body  are  grayish  with  shades  of  pink,  and  the  belly  is  pale 
and  also  has  a  shade  of  pink.  The  fins  are  all  reddish,  and  the  base  of 
caudal  and  anal  are  deep  red. 

Of  this  species  we  have  17  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  35  to 
50  mm.  All  are  from  the  upper  course  of  a  small  creek  at  Toro  Point. 


Order  IV.   Acanthopterygii. 

THE  SPINY-RAYED  FISHES. 

Spines  normally  present  in  the  anterior  part  of  the  dorsal  and  anal 
fins;  border  of  the  mouth  formed  by  the  premaxillary;  ventral  fins 
usually  thoracic;  anterior  vertebrae  unmodified;  opercular  bones  all 
present. 

Family  IX.   Mugilidae. 

Body  elongate,  more  or  less  compressed;  mouth  small,  terminal  or 
inferior;  teeth,  if  present,  small,  various  in  form;  premaxillaries  pro- 
tractile; gill-openings  wide,  the  membranes  free  from  the  isthmus; 
gill-rakers  usually  long  and  slender;  gills  4,  a  slit  behind  the  fourth; 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    333 

lateral  line  usually  absent,  never  complete;  scales  large,  extending 
forward  on  head;  dorsal  fins  2,  well  separated,  the  first  composed  of  4 
rather  strong  spines;  second  dorsal  with  one  spine  and  from  7  to  10  soft 
rays;  caudal  fin  forked;  anal  fin  with  2  or  3  spines  and  7  to  n  soft 
rays;  ventral  fins  abdominal,  each  with  one  spine  and  5  branched  rays; 
pectoral  fins  placed  high. 

The  genera  Agonostomus  and  Joturus  comprise  fresh  water  species 
and  are  dealt  with  in  the  present  paper.  The  marine  species  of  this 
family  will  be  discussed  in  another  work. 

KEY  TO   THE   GENERA. 

a.  Snout  scarcely  in  advance  of  upper  lip;  teeth  in  lower  jaw  in  a 
continuous  band;  dorsal  spines  rounded,  not  prominently  com- 
pressed. Agonostomus,  p.  333. 

aa.  Snout  projecting  beyond  upper  lip;  teeth  in  lower  jaw  in  two 
lateral  patches,  not  confluent  anteriorly;  dorsal  spines  notably 
compressed.  Joturus,  p.  336. 

43.  Genus  Agonostomus  Bennett. 

Agonostomus  Bennett,  Proc.  Comm.  Zool.  Soc.,  I,   1831,   166   (type 

Agonostomus  telfairii  Bennett). 
Neomugil  Valliant,  Bull.  Soc.  Philom.  Paris,  IV,  1894,  73  (type  Neomugil 

digueti  Valliant.) 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  mouth  terminal  in  young,  subinferior 
in  adult,  the  cleft  extending  laterally  to  or  past  front  of  eye,  the  lower 
lip  not  greatly  thickened;  teeth  in  bands  on  jaws,  vomer  and  palatines, 
those  on  jaws  with  lance-shaped  apices  or  serrated  margins;  first  dorsal 
with  4  rounded  spines;  anal  spines  2,  the  first  one  minute,  often  hidden 
in  the  skin;  stomach  not  gizzard-shaped.  Inhabiting  tropical  rivers, 
some  of  them  living  in  mountain  torrents. 

The  American  species  of  this  genus  have  been  described  in  current 
works  as  having  pointed  teeth  in  the  jaws.  This  is  certainly  not  true 
of  the  specimens  at  hand,  either  from  Panama  or  Cuba.  The  outer 
series  in  each  jaw  is  mostly  composed  of  lance-shaped  teeth  and  the 
inner  ones  nearly  all  have  a  serrated  margin. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

a.  Body  comparatively  slender,  the  depth  3.7  to  3.85  in  its  length 
in  specimens  about  150  mm.  long;  mouth  rather  small,  the  maxil- 
lary reaching  to  or  slightly  past  vertical  from  anterior  margin  of 
eye.  monticola,  p.  334. 


334    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

aa.  Body  somewhat  deeper,  the  depth  3.1  to  3.3  in  length  in  speci- 
mens about  150  mm.  long;  mouth  large,  the  maxillary  reaching 
nearly  to  vertical  from  middle  of  eye.  macracanthus,  p.  335. 

69.  Agonostomus  monticola  (Bancroft). 

Mugil  monticola  Bancroft,  in  Griffith's  Edition  Cuvier's  Animal  King- 
dom, Fishes,  1836,  367,  PI.  36  (West  Indies). 
Agonostoma  monticola  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  464 

(West  Indies). 
Agonostoma  nasutum  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  463  (Rio 

San  Geronimo,  Guatemala), and  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1868,  444, 

PI.  70,  fig.  i. 
Neomugil  digueti  Valliant,  Bull.  Soc.  Philom.,  IV,  1894,  73   (Lower 

California). 
Agonostomus  monticola  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XLVII,  1896,  819,  fig.  347;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1907, 

66;  Meek,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1914, 118  (both 

slopes  of  Costa  Rica). 
Agonostomus  nasutus  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 

1896,  819;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1907,  68,  PI.  X,  fig.  4. 

Head  3. 4  to  4.1;  depth  3.1  to  4.1;  D.  IV-1, 8;  A.  II,  10;  scales  39  to  43. 

Body  compressed;  upper  profile  gently  convex;  head  rather  small; 
snout  conical,  3.2  to  4.1  in  head;  eye  3  to  4.9;  interorbital  2.85  to  3.4; 
mouth  moderate,  nearly  horizontal;  upper  jaw  somewhat  in  advance  of 
the  lower;  upper  lip  various,  thin,  moderately  thick,  or  very  thick,  its 
upper  margin  elevated  or  not  at  tip  of  snout;  maxillary  reaching  to  or 
a  little  past  vertical  from  anterior  margin  of  eye,  2.6  to  3.2  in  head; 
teeth  in  bands  on  jaws,  vomer  and  palatines,  the  jaw  teeth  mostly  with 
serrate  margins,  some  with  lance-shaped  apices;  gill-rakers  rather  short, 
17  to  20  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales  rather  large,  ctenoid,  extend- 
ing forward  to  interorbital  area,  about  1 2  rows  between  anterior  rays  of 
second  dorsal  and  anal;  origin  of  first  dorsal  notably  nearer  tip  of  snout 
than  base  of  second  dorsal,  the  anterior  2  spines  of  equal  length  poste- 
riorly when  deflexed,  the  first  one  somewhat  longer  than  eye  and  snout; 
origin  of  second  dorsal  nearer  origin  of  the  first  dorsal  than  base  of 
caudal,  the  outer  margin  of  the  fin  concave;  caudal  fin  with  small  scales 
on  basal  half,  moderately  forked;  anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal,  but 
a  little  longer,  its  origin  slightly  in  advance  of  second  dorsal,  with  2 
spines,  the  first  one  minute  and  hidden  in  the  skin  in  adult ;  ventral  fins 
inserted  under  middle  of  pectorals,  a  little  nearer  origin  of  anal  than  tip 
of  snout;  pectoral  fins  placed  high,  of  about  the  same  length  as  ventrals, 
1.32  to  1.5  in  head. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    335 

Color  bluish  black  above;  sides  mostly  silvery,  the  margin  of  scales 
brown;  pale  below.  Very  young  often  with  a  dark  lateral  band,  which 
later  becomes  only  faintly  visible.  A  dark  caudal  spot  present  at  all 
ages,  but  most  distinct  in  young.  The  spines  of  first  dorsal  black,  the 
membranes  yellowish  green;  second  dorsal  and  caudal  yellowish  green 
at  base;  ventrals  yellow;  pectorals  plain  translucent.  Very  young  some- 
times with  reddish  fins. 

There  are  118  specimens,  ranging  from  40  to  255  mm.  in  length,  in 
the  present  collection  which  we  have  identified  as  this  species.  These 
were  collected  at  various  points  on  both  slopes  of  Panama,  mostly  in  the 
lowland  streams,  some  even  were  taken  in  brackish  water,  and  a  few 
are  from  upland  streams.  On  the  Atlantic  slope  it  was  taken  at  several 
points  in  the  Chagres  Basin  and  in  small  coastal  streams  at  Porto  Bello 
and  Toro  Point.  On  the  Pacific  slope  it  was  found  everywhere,  except 
in  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 

After  careful  study  of  our  material,  together  with  specimens  from 
Cuba  and  Guatemala,  we  find  it  impossible  to  retain  the  two  nominal 
species,  A.  monticola  and  A.  nasutus.  The  only  reason  for  keeping  the 
two  separate  heretofore  apparently  was  the  alleged  difference  in  the 
thickness  of  the  upper  lip.  We,  however,  find  that  in  our  large  series 
this  is  a  variable  character  upon  which  no  reliance  can  be  placed.  We 
have  specimens  with  a  thin  upper  lip,  some  with  a  thick  lip,  and  nearly  all 
stages  between.  These  occur  indiscriminately  on  both  slopes,  and  in 
the  same  rivers  and  pools.  However,  the  thick-lipped  form  occurs 
more  frequently  among  our  Pacific  slope  specimens  than  among  those 
from  the  Atlantic. 

Habitat:  Mexico;  Central  America;  both  slopes  of  Panama  and  the 
West  Indies. 

70.  Agonostomus  macracanthus  Regan. 

Agonostomus  macracanthus  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7, 

XIX,  1907,  65,  and  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1907,  69,  PI.  XI,  fig.  i 

(Rio  Guacalate,  Guatemala). 

Head  3.4  to  3.55;  depth  3.1  to  3.3;  D.  IV-I,  8;  A.  II,  12;  scales  41 
to  42. 

Body  compressed,  rather  deep;  head  low;  snout  conical;  3.25  to 
3.55  in  head;  eye  4.34  to  4.9;  interorbital  3.05  to  3.25;  mouth  rather 
large,  slightly  oblique;  the  upper  jaw  projecting;  the  upper  lip  quite 
thick;  maxillary  reaching  nearly  to  vertical  from  middle  of  eye,  2.44  to 
2.6  in  head;  teeth  as  in  preceding  species;  gill-rakers  short,  about  20  on 
lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales  large,  ctenoid,  extending  forward  to  inter- 
orbital  region,  about  12  rows  between  anterior  rays  of  second  dorsal  and 


336    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

anal;  origin  of  first  dorsal  about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base 
of  caudal,  the  first  spine  equal  to  or  shorter  than  the  second,  not  longer 
than  eye  and  snout;  origin  of  second  dorsal  notably  nearer  origin  of  first 
dorsal  than  base  of  caudal,  margin  of  fin  concave;  caudal  fin  with  small 
scales  on  basal  half,  moderately  forked;  anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal 
but  a  little  longer,  with  2  spines,  the  first  one  minute  and  often  hidden  in 
the  skin,  its  origin  under  or  slightly  in  advance  of  second  dorsal,  midway 
between  base  of  ventrals  and  base  of  caudal;  ventral  fins  inserted  under 
middle  of  pectoral,  somewhat  nearer  origin  of  anal  than  tip  of  snout; 
pectoral  fins  placed  high,  of  about  the  same  length  as  the  ventrals,  1.4 
to  1.65  in  head. 

Color  bluish  black  above;  sides  silvery,  with  margin  of  scales  brown; 
pale  below.  An  indefinite  dark  lateral  streak,  with  a  silvery  one  above 
it,  most  evident  on  posterior  part  of  body;  a  dark  caudal  spot  present. 
Spines  of  first  dorsal  black,  the  membranes  greenish;  second  dorsal, 
caudal  and  distal  half  of  anal  dusky;  ventrals  and  pectorals  plain  in 
spirits,  except  that  the  upper  ray  of  pectoral  is  black. 

There  are  only  2  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  present  collection, 
respectively  173  and  205  mm.  in  length.  Both  specimens  were  taken  at 
the  base  of  a  waterfall  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Indio,  a  tributary  of 
the  Upper  Chagres. 

This  species  differs  from  the  preceding  principally  in  the  somewhat 
deeper  body  and  in  the  notably  larger  mouth. 

Habitat:  Rio  Guacalate,  Guatemala;  Rio  Chagres,  Panama. 

44.  Genus  Joturus  Poey. 

Joturus  Poey,  Memorias,  II,  1861,  263  (type  Joturus  pichardi  Poey). 
Xenorhynchichthys  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  8,  II,  1908,  461 

(type  Joturus  stipes  Jordan  &  Gilbert). 

Snout  protruding  beyond  upper  Hp;  teeth  in  lower  jaw  in  two  lateral 
patches  which  do  not  meet  anteriorly;  dorsal  spines  compressed.  In 
other  respects  essentially  as  in  Agonostomus.  One  species  known,  living 
at  the  foot  of  waterfalls  and  rapids. 

71.  Joturus  pichardi  Poey. 

Joturus  pichardi  Poey,  Memorias  II,  1861,  263  (Cascades  throughout 
Cuba);  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1896, 
821;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1907,  70;  Meek,  Field  Mus. 
Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1914,  117  (both  slopes  of  Costa  Rica). 

Agonostoma  globiceps  Gunther,  Arm.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  4,  XIV, 
1874,  370  (Myzantla,  Vera  Cruz). 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    337 

Joturus  stipes  Jordan  &  Gilbert,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  V,  1882,  373  (Rio 

Bayano,  Panama). 
Xenorhynchichthys  stipes  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  8,  II, 

1908,  461  (Rio  Iroquois,  Costa  Rica). 

Head  4  to  4.27;  depth  3.2  to  3.9;  D.  IV-I,  9;  A.  II,  n;  scales  43  to  45. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  the  dorsal  region  somewhat  elevated; 
profile  from  snout  to  first  dorsal  evenly  convex;  head  rather  low  and 
broad;  snout  conical,  projecting  beyond  upper  lip,  2.75  to  3.4  in  head; 
eye  small,  4  to  6.5;  interorbital  broad,  1.93  to  2.7;  mouth  moderate, 
horizontal,  inferior;  lower  jaw  included;  maxillary  reaching  about  to 
vertical  from  middle  of  eye,  2.3  to  3.1  in  head;  teeth  in  the  jaws  com- 
pressed, with  serrate  margins,  those  of  the  upper  jaw  in  a  narrow,  con- 
tinuous band,  those  of  the  lower  jaw  in  2  lateral  patches,  not  meeting 
anteriorly;  vomerine  teeth  in  a  transverse  patch;  palatine  teeth  minute, 
in  a  very  narrow  band;  pterygoid  teeth,  if  present,  very  minute;  gill- 
rakers  short,  about  30  below  angle  on  first  arch;  scales  large,  ctenoid, 
extending  forward  to  nostrils,  12  to  14  longitudinal  rows  between  base 
of  second  dorsal  and  anal;  origin  of  first  dorsal  a  little  nearer  base  of  last 
ray  of  second  dorsal  than  tip  of  snout,  the  spines  notably  compressed, 
the  first  one  reaching  slightly  past  tip  of  the  second  when  deflexed, 
equal  to  about  two-thirds  length  of  head;  second  dorsal,  caudal  and 
anal  mostly  covered  with  small  scales;  origin  of  second  dorsal  somewhat 
nearer  origin  of  first  than  base  of  caudal,  its  outer  margin  concave; 
caudal  fin  forked,  the  lobes  of  about  equal  length;  anal  fin  similar  to 
second  dorsal,  its  origin  under  or  slightly  in  advance  of  origin  of  second 
dorsal,  and  about  midway  between  base  of  ventrals  and  base  of  caudal; 
ventral  fins  inserted  under  middle  of  pectorals,  about  midway  between 
tip  of  snout  and  origin  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  somewhat  longer  than 
ventrals,  i.i  to  1.3  in  head. 

Color  in  life,  of  a  specimen  about  200  mm.  in  length,  very  dark 
green  above,  with  the  base  of  scales  green  and  the  margin  black;  sides 
lighter  green  with  the  margin  of  the  scales  brown;  pale  below.  Dorsal 
fins  black  at  base  with  broad  yellowish  green  margins;  caudal  and  anal 
black  at  base,  otherwise  irregularly  blotched  with  black  and  yellow; 
ventrals  and  pectorals  dark  at  base  and  yellowish  at  tips.  The  young 
have  two  oblique  bars  on  each  lobe  of  the  caudal  and  two  similar  ones 
on  second  dorsal  and  anal.  In  large  examples  these  markings  completely 
disappear. 

We  have  26  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  from  150  to  460  mm. 
in  length.  Most  of  our  specimens  were  taken  by  a  discharge  of  dyna- 
mite below  a  waterfall  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Indio,  a  tributary  of 
the  Upper  Chagres.  The  others  were  taken  by  natives  with  hook  and 


338    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

line  at  Gatun,  at  the  "Spill-way,"  which  creates  an  artificial  waterfall. 
We  did  not  obtain  it  on  the  Pacific  slope,  although  it  is  recorded  from 
the  Rio  Mamoni. 

This  fish  is  said  to  reach  a  length  of  one  meter  and  is  much  valued  as 
food. 

Habitat:  Southern  Mexico  to  Panama  and  Cuba. 


Family  X.    Cichlidae. 

THE  MOJARRAS. 

Body  elongate,  compressed,  covered  with  ordinary  scales,  which  are 
usually  ctenoid;  lateral  line  interrupted  under  soft  portion  of  dorsal, 
reappearing  lower  down  on  caudal  peduncle;  mouth  large  or  small, 
terminal  to  subinferior;  teeth  conical,  incisor-like,  or  lobate;  vomer  and 
palatines  without  teeth;  premaxillaries  freely  protractile;  the  maxillary 
usually  slipping  under  the  broad  preorbital;  nostril  single  on  each  side; 
dorsal  fin  single,  the  spinous  portion  usually  longer  than  the  soft  portion; 
gill-membranes  usually  connected  and  free  from  the  isthmus;  air  bladder 
present;  ventral  fins  I,  5,  thoracic;  anal  fin  with  3  or  more  spines,  the 
soft  portion  smaller,  though  similar  to  that  of  dorsal;  branchiostegals 
5  or  6;  no  pseudobranchiae. 

A  large  family  of  fresh  water  fishes  inhabiting  the  lowland  streams  of 
Mexico  and  the  waters  of  Central  and  South  America  and  Africa.  Only 
a  few  species  occur  in  Panama. 

KEY   TO   THE   GENERA. 

a.  Anal  fin  with  3  spines. 

b.  First  gill-arch  normal,  without  a  lamelliform  lobe  above  angle; 
snout  usually  shorter  than  postorbital  part  of  head. 

jEquidens,  p.  338. 

bb.  First  gill-arch  with  a  lamelliform  lobe  above  angle;  snout  much 
longer  than  postorbital  part  of  head.  Geophagus,  p.  340. 

aa.   Anal  fin  with  more  than  3  spines. 

c.  Teeth  all  conical.  Cichlasoma,  p.  342. 
cc.    The  outer  series  of  teeth  in  both  jaws  compressed,  incisor-like. 

Neetroplus,  p.  348. 

45.  Genus  /Equidens  Eigenmann  &  Bray. 

jEquidens  Eigenmann  &  Bray,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Ac.  Sci.,  VII,  1894,  616  (type 
Acara  tetramerus  Heckel). 


DEC.  28,  1916.     FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.   339 

Body  robust,  compressed;  mouth  small,  the  premaxillary  not  greatly 
protractile;  gill-rakers  minute;  margin  of  lower  lip  free  at  sides;  teeth 
conical,  none  of  them  canine-like;  anal  spines  3;  upper  portion  of 
anterior  gill-arch  without  a  lamelliform  lobe. 

This  genus  contains  a  large  number  of  species  which  inhabit  the 
waters  of  South  America,  one  species  only  occurring  as  far  north  as 
Panama. 

72.  /Equidens  coeruleopunctatus  (Kner  &  Steindachner). 
Acara  coeruleopunctata  Kner  &  Steindachner,  Sitzungsb.  K.  Bayer.  Ak. 
Wiss.  Munchen,  1863,  222,  and  Abhandl.  K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss. 
Munchen,  X,  1864,  16,  PI.  II,  fig.  3  (Rio  Chagres,  Isthmus  of 
Panama);  Gunther,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  VI,  1869,  449  (Rio 
Chagres);  Steindachner,  Denkschr.  K.  Ak.  Wiss  Wien,  XLI,  1880, 
56  (Rio  Cauca);  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7,  XV, 
1905,  336,  and  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1906,  16  (Rio  Chagres, 
Panama;  N.  W.  Ecuador). 

Mquidens  coeruleopunctatus  Eigenmann  &  Bray,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Ac.  Sci., 
VII,  1894,  616;  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 
1898,  1514. 

Head  2.6  to  2.78;  depth  2  to  2.3;  D.  XIV  or  XV,  9  to  n;  A.  Ill, 
7  or  8. 

Body  robust;  anterior  profile  strongly  convex;  head  short  and  heavy; 
snout  blunt,  2.53  to  3.8  in  head;  eye  3  to  4.45;  interorbital  much 
broader  than  eye,  except  in  very  young;  preorbital  broader  than  eye  in 
large  examples,  but  notably  narrower  than  eye  in  young;  mouth  ter- 
minal, rather  small;  the  maxillary  failing  to  reach  eye,  3.1  to  3.8  in  head; 
lips  not  thickened,  the  margin  of  lower  lip  free  at  sides  only;  teeth  in  the 
jaws  conical,  forming  a  band  in  each  jaw;  gill-membranes  broadly  con- 
nected across  isthmus;  gill-rakers  short,  about  8  on  lower  arm  of  first 
arch;  lateral  line  interrupted  under  anterior  rays  of  soft  portion  of  dorsal, 
reappearing  on  third  row  below  its  original  course;  scales  rather  large, 
cycloid,  i>£  to  2  rows  between  lateral  line  and  middle  of  base  of  dorsal; 
dorsal  fin  long,  its  origin  over  posterior  margin  of  opercle,  the  spines 
rather  short  and  strong,  the  last  one  2.2  to  3.3  in  head,  the  soft  portion 
much  elevated  in  large  examples,  the  produced  rays  often  reaching  nearly 
to  tip  of  caudal,  none  of  the  rays  much  produced  in  the  young  and  not 
reaching  far  beyond  base  of  caudal;  caudal  fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin 
convex;  anal  fin  with  3  strong  spines,  the  soft  portion  similar  to  that  of 
dorsal;  ventral  fins  inserted  a  little  behind  base  of  pectorals,  reaching 
origin  of  anal  in  young,  a  few  of  the  rays  produced  in  adult  reaching  oppo- 
site the  soft  portion  of  anal;  pectoral  fins  rather  long,  .97  to  1.15  in  head. 


340    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Color  in  life  of  a  large  example:  Back  bluish  black,  pale  brownish 
below;  sides  with  4  indistinct  cross-bars,  a  dark  blotch  on  sides  below 
last  half  of  spinous  portion  of  dorsal;  cheeks  with  2  distinct  blue-green 
lines  and  numerous  spots  of  the  same  color;  these  spots  are  also  present 
on  sides  and  breast;  base  of  caudal  with  a  large  black  spot.  Dorsal  fin 
bluish  black,  the  soft  rays  with  a  tinge  of  deep  red  and  with  a  yellow 
margin;  caudal  fin  reddish  blue  with  darker  spots;  anal  fin  dark  blue, 
the  last  rays  reddish  at  tips;  ventral  fins  slate;  pectorals  greenish.  The 
dark  cross-bars  on  sides  more  numerous  and  more  distinct  in  young. 
Cheeks,  sides  and  chest  without  blue-green  lines  or  spots;  fins  all  paler 
and  without  red. 

Considerable  variation  in  color  is  evident  among  our  specimens. 
Individuals  taken  in  muddy  streams  are  much  duller,  and  do  not  possess 
any  blue-green  lines  and  spots. 

Of  this  species  there  are  numerous  specimens  in  the  present  col- 
lection, ranging  in  length  from  2  5  to  1 5  7  mm.  One  of  the  most  abundant 
species  in  the  streams  of  Panama,  occurring  on  both  slopes,  from  tide 
water  to  the  highest  mountain  streams. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama  and  south  to  Colombia,  and 
Ecuador. 

46.  Genus  Geophagus  Heckel. 

Geophagus  Heckel,  Ann.  Wiener  Mus.,  II,  1840,  383  (type  Geophagus 

altifrons  Heckel  =  Sparus  surinamensis  Bloch). 

Satanoperca  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  IV,  1862,  312  (type  Geopha- 
gus acuticeps  Heckel). 

Body  oblong,  compressed;  mouth  moderate;  jaws  with  conical 
teeth;  premaxillary  moderately  protractile;  outer  gill-arch  with  a  com- 
pressed lamelliform  lobe  above,  gill-rakers  at  or  near  its  margin;  margin 
of  lower  lip  not  free  at  its  middle;  caudal  fin  emarginate  to  slightly 
forked;  anal  spines  3. 

One  species  of  this  genus  is  known  to  occur  in  Panama,  its  range  not 
extending  northward  far  beyond  the  Canal  Zone. 

73.  Geophagus  crassilabris  Steindachner. 

Geophagus    (Satanoperca}    crassilabris    Steindachner,    Sitzb.    K.    Ak. 

Wiss.  Wien,  LXXIV,  1876,  65,  PI.  VII  (Vicinity  of  Candelaria, 

Isthmus  of  Panama). 
Satanoperca  crassilabris  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XLVII,  1898,  1542. 
Geophagus  crassilabris  Pellegrin,  fitude  Pois.  Fam.  Cichlides,  Lille,  1904, 

160  (Isthmus  of  Panama) ;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1906, 16. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    341 

Head  2.46  to  3.13;  depth  2.35  to  2.95;  D.  XVI,  9  or  10;  A.  Ill,  7  or  8; 
scales  29  to  31. 

Body  rather  deep,  compressed;  the  back  elevated;  anterior  profile 
distinctly  convex  in  young,  straight  in  adults  not  possessing  a  nuchal 
hump,  concave  in  specimens  with  nuchal  hump;  head  deep;  snout  long 
and  pointed  in  adult,  much  shorter  and  more  blunt  in  young,  equal  to 
half  length  of  head  in  specimens  about  125  mm.  in  length,  much  greater 
than  half  length  of  head  in  large  specimens  and  much  shorter  than  half 
head  in  very  young,  1.6  to  4  in  head  in  specimens  ranging  from  30  to  263 
mm.  in  length;  eye  circular,  placed  high,  lower  margin  of  pupil  about  on 
level  with  upper  angle  of  gill-opening,  2.95  to  5.85  in  head;  preorbital 
broad,  about  2  times  diameter  of  eye  in  large  examples,  equal  to  or  a 
little  less  than  diameter  of  eye  in  very  young;  mouth  moderate,  hori- 
zontal; maxillary  failing  to  reach  anterior  margin  of  eye,  2.6  to  3.65  in 
head;  jaws  equal  or  the  upper  slightly  projecting;  the  lips  thickened, 
the  lower  with  a  fleshy  lobe  on  each  side;  teeth  conical,  in  bands  in  each 
jaw;  gill-membranes  broadly  connected  across  isthmus;  gill-rakers  short, 
about  13  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  lateral  line  interrupted  under  soft 
portion  of  dorsal,  reappearing  on  the  third  row  of  scales  below  its 
original  course;  scales  of  moderate  size,  feebly  ctenoid,  from  2  to  3^ 
rows  between  lateral  line  and  middle  of  base  of  dorsal;  dorsal  fin  long, 
its  origin  over  posterior  margin  of  opercle,  the  spines  rather  short  and 
strong,  the  last  one  2.7  to  3.3  in  head,  the  soft  portion  varying  greatly 
in  length  among  different  individuals,  usually  reaching  base  of  caudal,  a 
few  of  the  rays  occasionally  produced  and  reaching  far  beyond  this 
point;  caudal  fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin  concave;  anal  fin  short,  the 
spines  strong,  the  soft  portion  similar  to  that  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins 
inserted  slightly  behind  base  of  pectorals,  reaching  to  or  past  vent; 
pectoral  fins  moderate,  1.2  to  1.5  in  head. 

Color  in  life  greenish  brown  above,  yellowish  below.  Sides  in  young 
with  well  defined  black  cross-bars,  these  less  distinct  in  adult;  very  young 
also  with  a  black  lateral  band.  Lips  and  gill-membranes  blue  in  adult. 
Dorsal,  caudal,  anal  and  ventrals  reddish  yellow  in  adult,  more  greenish 
in  young;  pectorals  greenish. 

This  fish  is  represented  by  numerous  specimens,  ranging  from  30  to 
263  mm.  in  length.  It  is  common  in  the  streams  on  both  slopes  of 
Panama. 

There  is  considerable  variation  with  respect  to  the  development  of 
the  soft  portion  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  and  the  number  of  rows  of 
scales  between  the  lateral  line  and  base  of  dorsal,  but  our  large  series  is 
ample  to  show  that  these  are  only  individual  variations. 

Habitat:  Isthmus  of  Panama. 


342    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

47.  Genus  Cichlasoma  Swainson. 

Cichlasoma  Swainson,  Nat.  Hist.  Class.  Fishes,  Amph.  and  Rept.,  II, 

1839,  230  (type  Sciana  bimaculata  Linnaeus). 
Theraps  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  IV,  1862,  284  (type  Theraps 

irregularis  Gunther). 
Parapetenia  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7,  XVI,  1905,  324 

(type  Acara  adspersa  Gunther). 

Body  ovate  to  oblong,  compressed;  mouth  rather  small  to  large; 
premaxillary  moderately  protractile,  the  maxillary  slipping  under  the 
preorbital;  fold  of  the  lower  lip  continuous  or  not;  teeth  conical,  to 
slightly  compressed  in  a  few  species;  a  few  anterior  teeth  canine-like  in 
species  with  large  mouths;  anal  spines  IV  to  XI. 

To  this  genus  belong  many  species,  some  are  deep,  others  more  or 
less  elongate.  In  many  of  the  species  the  mouth  is  small,  the  gape 
horizontal  or  nearly  so,  and  the  anterior  teeth  conical  to  slightly  com- 
pressed. In  others  the  mouth  is  terminal,  oblique,  and  with  some  of 
the  anterior  teeth  enlarged  and  canine-like.  The  efforts  to  break  this 
group  into  several  genera  or  subgenera  have  not  met  with  much  success, 
since  the  characters  on  which  they  have  been  based  are  too  variable  and 
overlap.  Only  five  species  are  known  to  occur  in  central  and  eastern 
Panama. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  The  outer  series  of  teeth  in  the  jaws  somewhat  enlarged,  and 
regularly  increased  in  size  anteriorly;  mouth  small  or  moderate; 
the  maxillary  not  reaching  past  vertical  from  anterior  margin  of 
eye. 

b.  Lower  lip  narrow,  its  margin  not  free  at  symphasis;  teeth  all 
sharply  pointed. 

c.  A  large  black  blotch  present  at  base  of  caudal,  and  usually  with 
another  large  black  blotch  on  sides  under  tips  of  pectorals;  sides 
without  distinct  cross-bars;  lateral  band  present  only  in  very 
young;  scales  in  lateral  series  31  to  33;  lower  lateral  line  on 
third  row  of  scales  below  upper  lateral  line. 

maculicauda,  p.  343. 

cc.  Young  with  cross-bars;  adults  with  a  single  series  of  black 
blotches  along  middle  of  sides;  spot  at  base  of  caudal  com- 
paratively small;  black  dots  on  rows  of  scales,  forming  dark 
lines;  scales  in  lateral  series  34  to  41;  lower  lateral  line  present 
on  fifth  row  of  scales  below  upper  lateral  line;  6  or  7  rows  of 
scales  between  lateral  line  and  base  of  anterior  dorsal  spines; 
anal  with  6  or  7  spines.  tuyrense,  p.  344. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    343 

ccc.  Body  with  cross-bars,  forming  a  series  of  blotches  on  upper 
lateral  line  and  a  larger  series  on  middle  of  sides;  each  scale 
with  a  dark  spot;  scales  in  lateral  series  30  to  32 ;  4  rows  of  scales 
between  lateral  line  and  base  of  anterior  dorsal  spines;  anal 
spines  5.  .sieboldii,  p.  345. 

bb.  Lower  lip  broad,  continuous,  and  free  at  symphasis;  teeth  rather 
blunt;  young  with  dark  cross-bars,  these  less  distinct  in  adult; 
sides  with  a  large,  black  blotch  under  posterior  part  of  spinous 
portion  of  dorsal;  a  small  black  spot  at  base  of  upper  half  of 
caudal.  calobrense,  p.  346. 

aa.  The  anterior  pair  of  teeth  in  each  jaw  enlarged;  mouth  rather 
large;  the  maxillary  reaching  past  vertical  from  anterior  margin 
of  eye;  sides  with  a  dark  lateral  band,  ending  in  a  jet  black  caudal 
spot.  umbriferum,  p.  347. 

74.  Gichlasoma  maculicauda  Regan. 

Cichlasoma  maculicaiida  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7,  XVI, 
1905,  227  (Lake  Yzabal  and  Rio  Motagua,  Guatemala;  Rio  Chagres, 
Panama),  and  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1906,  19,  PI.  II,  fig.  3. 
Head  2.7  to  3.23;  depth  1.75  to  2.1;  D.  XVII  or  XVIII,  n  or  12; 
A.  VI,  9  or  10;  scales  31  to  33. 

Body  deep,  compressed;  anterior  profile  a  little  concave  in  large 
specimens  possessing  a  slight  nuchal  hump,  convex  in  others;  head  deep; 
snout  moderate,  2.1  to  4  in  head;  eye  2.8  to  4.3;  mouth  small,  terminal, 
slightly  oblique;  maxillary  failing  to  reach  anterior  margin  of  eye,  3.4 
to  4  in  head;  the  lips  not  thickened,  the  lower  one  not  free  at  middle; 
teeth  in  the  jaws  pointed,  in  2  more  or  less  definite  series,  the  outer  and 
anterior  ones  enlarged;  gill-membranes  united  across  isthmus;  gill- 
rakers  short,  about  9  or  10  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales  moderate, 
ctenoid,  5  or  6  rows  between  lateral  line  and  middle  of  base  of  dorsal; 
lateral  line  interrupted  under  soft  portion  of  dorsal,  reappearing  on  the 
third  row  of  scales  below  its  original  course;  origin  of  dorsal  over  or 
slightly  in  advance  of  base  of  pectoral,  the  spines  strong,  the  last  one 
1.8  to  2.5  in  head,  the  soft  portion  pointed,  a  few  of  the  rays  somewhat 
produced  in  large  examples,  always  reaching  notably  past  base  of  cau- 
dal, its  base  with  small  scales;  caudal  fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin  con- 
vex, more  strongly  so  in  adult  than  in  young;  anal  fin  with  6  strong 
spines,  the  soft  portion  similar  to  that  of  dorsal;  the  outer  rays  of  the 
ventral  fins  somewhat  produced,  reaching  to  or  past  origin  of  anal; 
pectoral  fins  moderate,  1.14  to  1.3  in  head. 

Color  yellowish-green  to  brownish,  without  distinct  cross-bars. 
Lateral  band  present  only  in  young  (25  mm.),  which  also  have  a  black 


344    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

band  at  base  of  dorsal.  A  large  black  blotch  present  at  base  of  caudal, 
and  most  specimens  with  a  black  blotch  on  middle  of  side  under  tip  of 
pectoral.  An  occasional  specimen  also  has  many  small  dark  spots  on 
sides.  Fins  plain  translucent,  or  dusky;  the  vertical  fins  often  with 
small  dark  spots. 

There  are  237  specimens,  ranging  from  20  to  250  mm.  in  length,  in 
the  present  collection.  All  are  from  the  lower  Chagres  and  its  tribu- 
taries. It  was  frequently  found  abundant  in  very  brackish  water,  and 
in  Panama  its  range  seems  to  be  limited  to  the  brackish  and  sluggish 
streams  of  the  Atlantic  slope. 

The  parents  appear  to  guard  their  young  for  quite  some  time  after 
hatching.  On  one  occasion  it  was  noticed  that  two  large  fishes,  evidently 
of  this  species,  were  hovering  very  closely  to  numerous  small  ones,  at 
a  place  where  the  water  was  quite  shallow.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
surround  them  with  a  seine.  However,  the  adults  by  their  very  quick 
movement  made  their  escape.  A  large  number  of  young  was  taken. 
Only  a  few  minutes  after  the  seine  was  hauled  the  two  large  fishes  reap- 
peared and  a  second  attempt  at  capturing  them  failed.  The  young 
were  all  of  about  equal  size,  ranging  from  20  to  24  mm.  in  length. 

Habitat:  Lake  Yzabal,  Guatemala,  south  to  Rio  Chagres,  Panama. 

75.  Cichlasoma  tuyrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Heros  margaritifer  var.  Steindachner,  Denksch.  K.  Ak.  Wiss.  Wien, 

XLI,  1879,  161  (Rio  Mamoni,  Chepo). 
Cichlasoma  tuyrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  89  (Rio  Tuyra,  Boca  de  Cupe,  Panama). 

Head  2.75  to  3.45;  depth  1.77  to  2.1;  D.  XVI  to  XVIII,  usually 
XVII,  ii  or  12;  A.  VI  or  rarely  VII,  8  or  9;  scales  34  to  41. 

Body  deep,  compressed;  anterior  profile  nearly  straight  in  young, 
strongly  convex  in  adult;  no  nuchal  hump;  head  deep;  snout  moderately 
pointed,  2.2  to  3.4  in  head;  eye  3.33  to  4.3;  mouth  rather  small,  terminal, 
slightly  oblique;  maxillary  failing  to  reach  anterior  margin  of  eye,  2.8 
to  3.7  in  head;  the  lips  not  thickened,  the  lower  one  not  free  at  middle; 
teeth  in  the  jaws  pointed,  in  bands,  the  outer  one  somewhat  enlarged; 
gill-membranes  broadly  connected  across  isthmus;  gill-rakers  short, 
about  8  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales  rather  small,  weakly  ctenoid, 
6  or  7  rows  between  lateral  line  and  middle  of  base  of  dorsal;  lateral  line 
interrupted  under  soft  portion  of  dorsal,  reappearing  on  the  fifth  row  of 
scales  below  its  original  course;  origin  of  dorsal  over  posterior  margin 
of  opercle,  the  spines  strong,  the  last  one  1.86  to  2.33  in  head;  the  soft 
portion  with  small  scales  at  base,  pointed  and  reaching  well  past  base  of 
caudal  in  adult;  caudal  fin  scaly  at  base,  its  posterior  margin  strongly 


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DEC.  28,1916.    FISHES  or  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    345 

convex;  anal  with  6  or  7  strong  spines,  the  soft  portion  similar  to  that 
of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  more  or  less  produced,  reaching  to  or  past  origin 
of  anal;  pectoral  fins  equal  to  or  slightly  shorter  than  head. 

Color  brownish;  sides  in  young  with  dark  cross-bars  as  wide  as 
interspaces,  in  adult  with  a  series  of  black  blotches  along  median  line 
of  sides;  black  dots  on  rows  of  scales  forming  dark  lines,  these  most 
distinct  in  large  examples.  Base  of  caudal  with  a  short  black  bar  or 
spot;  the  vertical  fins  usually  with  dark  spots;  ventral  fins  dusky. 

This  species  is  represented  by  114  specimens,  ranging  from  29  to  300 
mm.  in  length.  It  was  taken  only  in  the  Rio  Bayano  and  Rio  Tuyra 
basins. 

Our  largest  specimen  sometime  during  its  career  had  the  lower  lobe 
of  the  caudal  fin  broken  off  at  its  base.  The  fin  regenerated  and  again 
formed  normal  rays,  except  that  at  the  time  of  capture  they  had  not 
grown  as  long  as  the  uninjured  portion. 

This  species  probably  resembles  C.  sieboldii  (Kner  &  Steindachner). 
The  last  named  species  was  based  on  specimens  from  the  west  slope  of 
Panama.  Our  fish,  however,  differs  so  notably  in  several  respects  from 
the  species  as  described  that  we  are  unable  to  identify  our  specimens 
with  it.  The  body  in  the  present  species  is  slightly  deeper;  eye  larger; 
scales  in  lateral  line  more  numerous;  last  dorsal  spine  is  notably  longer; 
the  pectoral  fin  is  longer;  the  caudal  fin  is  always  notably  rounded;  and 
there  is  a  single  series  of  black  blotches  placed  along  middle  of  side  and 
none  on  upper  lateral  line. 

Habitat:  Rio  Bayano  and  Rio  Tuyra  basins. 

76.  Cichlasoma  sieboldii  (Kner  &  Steindachner). 

Heros  sieboldii  Kner  &  Steindachner,  Abhandl.  K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss. 

Munchen,  X,  1864,  13,  PI.  II,  fig.  2  (New  Grenada,  west  slope, 

Panama). 
Cichlasoma  sieboldii  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 

1898,  1516;  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7,  XVI,  1905,  235. 

"Depth  of  body  about  2%  in  length,  length  of  head  about  $%. 
Snout  as  long  as  postorbital  part  of  head.  Diameter  of  eye  4-5  in 
length  of  head  and  1^2—2^2  in  interorbital  width.  Maxillary  not 
extending  to  below  eye;  jaws  equal  anteriorly,  fold  of  lower  lip  not 
continuous;  cheek  with  5  series  of  scales;  8  or  9  gill-rakers  on  lower  part 
of  anterior  arch.  Scales  30-32,  4/13,  2^2  between  lateral  line  and  base 
of  anterior  part  of  soft  dorsal.  Dorsal  XVII  n,  the  spines  increasing 
in  length  to  the  last,  which  is  about  ^  the  length  of  head;  soft  fin,  when 
laid  back,  extending  nearly  to  middle  of  caudal.  Anal  V,  8.  Pectoral 
y^A  the  length  of  head;  ventral  extending  to  the  vent.  Caudal  sub- 


346     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOSLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

truncate  or  slightly  rounded.  Caudal  peduncle  about  4/s  as  long  as  deep. 
Reddish  brown,  each  scale  with  a  dark  spot;  5  or  6  dark  cross-bars  form- 
ing a  series  of  blotches  on  the  upper  lateral  line  and  a  second  larger 
series  on  the  middle  of  the  side;  vertical  fins  dark  greyish  with  series  of 
blackish  spots."  (Regan.) 

This  species  was  not  seen  by  us.  The  above  description  is  an  exact 
copy  from  Regan,  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  Ser.  7, 
Vol.  XVI,  1905,  p.  235. 

If  the  type  of  this  species  actually  came  from  Panama,  it  is  rather 
singular  that  it  was  not  obtained  there  by  us.  C.  tuyrense  is  more 
closely  related  to  this  species  than  any  other  taken  by  us,  but  there  are 
such  important  differences  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  that  the  two  are 
confused. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  Panama. 

77.  Cichlasoma  calobrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Cichlasoma  calobrense  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  90  (Rio  Calobre,  Panama). 

Head  2.73  to  2.9;  depth  2.13  to  2.7;  D.  XVII,  10  to  12;  A.  VI,  7  or 
8;  scales  28  to  31. 

Body  moderately  elongate,  compressed;  head  deep;  snout  tapering, 
longer  than  postorbital  part  of  head  (except  in  young  less  than  55  mm. 
in  length),  1.87  to  2.75  in  head;  eye  3.1  to  4.58;  mouth  moderate,  ter- 
minal, nearly  horizontal;  maxillary  reaching  vertical  from  anterior 
margin  of  eye,  2.5  to  3.3  in  head;  the  lips  large,  the  lower  one  broad, 
continuous  and  free  at  middle;  teeth  in  the  jaws  bluntly  conical,  the 
outer  ones  somewhat  enlarged,  and  with  brown  tips;  gill-membranes  con- 
nected across  isthmus;  gill-rakers  short,  about  n  or  12  on  lower  limb  of 
first  arch;  scales  rather  large,  feebly  ctenoid,  3  or  4  rows  between  lateral 
line  and  middle  of  base  of  dorsal;  lateral  line  interrupted  under  soft 
portion  of  dorsal,  reappearing  on  third  row  of  scales  below  its  original 
course  and  usually  considerably  in  advance  of  end  of  upper  lateral  line; 
origin  of  dorsal  over  posterior  margin  of  opercle,  the  spines  strong, 
graduated,  the  last  one  2.2  to  3  in  head;  the  soft  portion  with  only  a 
few  scales  at  base  on  interradial  membranes,  the  middle  rays  somewhat 
produced,  reaching  well  beyond  base  of  caudal;  caudal  fin  with  scales 
on  basal  half,  its  margin  always  convex;  anal  fin  with  6  strong  graduated 
spines,  the  soft  portion  similar  to  that  of  dorsal;  ventral  fins  rather  long 
and  pointed,  the  longest  rays  reaching  opposite  second  or  third  anal 
spine;  pectoral  fins  not  quite  reaching  origin  of  anal,  i.i 8  to  1.47  in  head. 

Color  brownish.  Young  with  dark  cross-bars  and  a  more  or  less 
distinct  dark  lateral  band;  the  dark  bars  less  distinct  in  adult,  and  the 


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DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    347 

lateral  band  wanting.  A  large  black  blotch  on  middle  of  side,  under 
posterior  part  of  spinous  portion  of  dorsal;  a  small  black  caudal  spot  at 
base  of  upper  half  of  caudal;  cheeks,  opercle  and  anterior  portion  of  sides 
often  with  small  rusty  spots.  Vertical  fins  sometimes  with  small  dark 
spots;  ventral  and  anal  fins  usually  bluish  black. 

We  have  69  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  from  33  to  212  mm.  in 
length.  These  are  from  the  Rio  Bayano  and  Rio  Tuyra  basins. 

78.  Cichlasoma  umbriferum  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Cichlasoma  umbriferum  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  88  (Rio  Cupe,  Cituro,  Panama). 

Head  2.5  to  2.83;  depth  2.2  to  2.5;  D.  XVI  or  XVII,  n  or  12;  A.  VI, 
8  or  9;  scales  30  to  32. 

Body  moderately  elongate;  anterior  profile  nearly  straight,  and 
oblique;  head  rather  large;  snout  tapering,  a  little  shorter  than  post- 
orbital  part  of  head,  2.8  to  3.2  in  head;  eye  3.4  to  4.7;  mouth  moderate, 
terminal,  slightly  oblique;  maxillary  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  vertical 
from  anterior  margin  of  pupil,  2  to  2.25  in  head;  the  lips  not  notably 
thickened,  the  lower  one  of  moderate  width,  continuous  and  free  at 
middle;  teeth  in  the  jaws  pointed,  the  anterior  pair  in  each  jaw  somewhat 
enlarged;  gill-membranes  connected  across  isthmus;  gill-rakers  short, 
about  9  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales  rather  large,  ctenoid,  5  or  6 
rows  between  lateral  line  and  middle  of  base  of  dorsal;  lateral  line  in- 
terrupted under  soft  portion  of  dorsal,  reappearing  on  third  row  of 
scales  below  its  original  course;  origin  of  dorsal  over  or  slightly  in 
advance  of  posterior  margin  of  opercle;  the  spines  rather  strong,  gradu- 
ated, the  last  one  2.65  to  3.65  in  head;  the  soft  portion  with  a  sheath  of 
scales  at  base  and  with  small  scales  on  interradial  membranes,  the  rays 
not  much  produced,  not  reaching  very  far  beyond  base  of  caudal ;  lower 
half  of  caudal  fin  rather  densely  scaled,  the  margin  strongly  convex; 
anal  fin  with  6  strong,  graduated  spines,  the  soft  portion  similar  to  that 
of  dorsal ;  ventral  fins  inserted  slightly  behind  base  of  pectorals,  a  few  of 
the  rays  somewhat  produced  and  reaching  a  little  past  origin  of  anal; 
pectoral  fins  moderate,  not  reaching  tips  of  ventrals,  1.3  to  1.52  in  head. 

Color  from  light  brown  to  bluish  black;  sides  without  cross-bars, 
except  in  young  up  to  50  mm.;  a  dark  lateral  band,  extending  from  eye 
to  upper  half  of  base  of  caudal,  ending  in  a  jet  black  caudal  spot; 
lower  part  of  sides  often  with  bluish  spots,  these  most  evident  on  light 
colored  specimens.  Vertical  fins  with  dark  and  bluish  spots;  ventral 
fins  bluish  black;  pectoral  fins  plain  translucent. 

We  have  40  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  from  28  to  236  mm. 
in  length.  All  are  from  the  Rio  Tuyra  Basin. 


348    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

48.  Genus  Neetroplus  Gunther. 

Neetroplus  Gunther,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  VI,  1869,  469  (type 

Neetroplus  nematopus  Gunther). 

Body  ovate  to  elongate,  compressed ;  mouth  small ;  the  anterior  teeth  in 
each  jaw  compressed  and  incisor-like.  In  other  respects  like  Cichlasoma. 

This  genus  contains  three  species,  one  each  in  Nicaragua,  Costa  Rica, 
and  Panama. 

79.  Neetroplus  panamensis  Meek  &  Hildebrand. 

Neetroplus  panamensis  Meek  &   Hildebrand,  Field   Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1913,  90  (Rio  Mandingo,  Bas  Obispo,  Canal 

Zone,  Panama). 

Head  2.9  to  3.1;  depth  2  to  2.25;  D.  XVII  (rarely  XVIII),  9  or  10; 
A.  VI  (rarely  VII),  7;  scales  27  to  30. 

Body  rather  short,  compressed;  head  moderate;  snout  blunt,  equal 
to  or  shorter  than  postorbital  part  of  head,  2.4  to  3  in  head;  eye  3  to 
3.84;  mouth  small,  terminal;  maxillary  failing  to  reach  anterior  margin 
of  eye,  3.25  to  3.75  in  head;  cheeks  with  3  rows  of  rather  large  scales; 
lips  thin,  the  lower  one  free  only  at  sides;  teeth  in  the  jaws  distinctly 
compressed,  incisor-like,  with  reddish  brown  tips;  gill-membranes 
broadly  connected  across  isthmus;  gill-rakers  short,  7  or  8  on  lower  limb 
of  first  arch;  scales  moderate,  ctenoid,  2^  to  3  rows  between  lateral  line 
and  middle  of  base  of  dorsal;  lateral  line  interrupted  under  soft  portion 
of  dorsal,  reappearing  on  third  row  of  scales  below  its  original  course; 
origin  of  dorsal  over  margin  of  opercle,  the  spines  graduated,  the  last 
one  2.3  to  2.8  in  head;  the  soft  portion  scaly  at  base,  pointed,  a  few  of 
the  middle  rays  produced,  reaching  to  distal  fourth  of  caudal;  caudal 
fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin  evenly  convex;  anal  fin  with  6  or  rarely  7 
strong,  graduated  spines,  the  soft  portion  similar  to  that  of  dorsal; 
ventral  fins  with  the  outer  rays  produced,  often  reaching  opposite  the 
4th  or  5th  anal  spine;  pectoral  fins  not  quite  reaching  origin  of  anal,  i.i 
to  1.24  in  head. 

Back  bluish  black;  sides  reddish  or  brownish.  Young  with  black- 
ish bars,  these  obscure  or  wanting  in  adult;  a  prominent  dark  blotch  on 
middle  of  sides  below  posterior  portion  of  spinous  dorsal,  and  sometimes 
with  a  series  of  irregular  black  blotches  on  lower  part  of  side  from  above 
base  of  pectorals  to  base  of  caudal;  vertical  fins  dark,  tinged  with  red  in 
adult;  ventral  fins  always  pale  blue. 

There  are  42  specimens,  ranging  from  65  to  103  mm.  in  length,  in  the 
present  collection. 

Habitat:  Rio  Chagres  Basin. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    349 

Family  XL    Gobiidae. 

Body  oblong  or  elongate;  teeth  various,  usually  small;  premaxillaries 
protractile;  gill-openings  usually  rather  small,  the  membranes  attached 
to  the  isthmus;  opercle  unarmed;  preopercle  unarmed  or  with  a  short 
spine;  orbital  margin  not  free,  continuous  with  skin  of  head;  lateral  line 
wanting;  scales  present  or  wanting;  dorsal  fins  2,  separate  or  connected, 
the  first  composed  of  2  to  8  slender  spines;  the  second  dorsal  preceded 
by  a  single  weak  spine;  margin  of  caudal  fin  convex;  anal  usually  similar 
to  second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  close  together,  separate  or  united,  when 
united  forming  a  sucking  disc,  consisting  of  I,  5  or  rarely  of  I,  4  rays,  in- 
serted under  base  of  pectorals;  pectoral  fins  with  a  broad  sub  vertical  base. 

Most  of  the  representatives  of  this  family  are  marine,  but  some  of 
them  enter  fresh  water  and  rivers.  Only  the  latter  of  the  Panama 
species  are  discussed  in  the  present  paper. 

KEY  TO   THE   GENERA. 

a.  Ventral  fins  separate. 

b.  Vomer  with  villiform  teeth;  gill-openings  extending  forward  to 
below  eyes.  Philypnus,  p.  350. 

bb.  Vomerine  teeth  wanting;  gill-openings  not  extending  forward  to 
below  eyes. 

c.  Head  very  broad;  eyes  lateral;  jaws  anteriorly  of  equal  length; 
teeth  compressed  at  apices;  gill-rakers  numerous,  well  developed, 
in  2  series  on  each  arch.     Intestinal  canal  long;  species  herbi- 
verous.  Dormitator,  p.  353. 

cc.  Head  narrower;  eyes  lateral  or  not;  lower  jaw  more  or  less  pro- 
jecting; teeth  all  pointed;  gill-rakers  few,  poorly  developed. 
Intestinal  canal  short;  species  carniverous. 

d.  Preopercle  with  a  small,  sharp,  concealed  spine  at  its  lower  poste- 
rior angle.  Eleotris,  p.  356. 

dd.  Preopercle  unarmed. 

e.  Scales  very  small,  100  or  more  in  a  lateral  series. 

Guavina,  p.  360. 
ee.    Scales  larger,  usually  fewer  than  40  in  a  lateral  series. 

f.  Dentary  bones  broad,  expanded,  meeting  under  posterior  angle 
of  mouth,  leaving  an  oval-shaped,  naked  patch  at  chin. 

Leptophilypnus  gen.  nov.,  p.  361. 

ff .  Dentary  bones  narrow,  not  nearly  meeting  under  posterior  angle 
of  mouth. 

g.  Head  broad  depressed;  eyes  superior;  head  and  chest  naked. 

Microeleotris  gen.  nov.,  p.  362. 


3So    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

gg.  Head  compressed;  eyes  lateral;  head  (with  the  exception  of 
snout)  and  chest  scaly.  Hemieleotris  gen.  nov.,  p.  364. 

aa.   Ventral  fins  united,  forming  a  sucking  disc. 

h.  Teeth  in  the  jaws  in  narrow  bands;  ventral  disc  longer  than  wide, 
free  from  abdomen;  shoulder  girdle  with  2  or  more  dermal  flaps 
projecting  into  gill-cavity.  Awaous,  p.  365. 

hh.  Teeth  in  upper  jaw  in  a  single,  close-set  series,  slender,  tricuspid, 
bicuspid  or  simple,  curved  inward;  lower  jaw  with  2  series  of 
teeth,  the  outer  series  nearly  horizontal,  partly  or  completely 
hidden  in  the  gums,  second  series  erect,  pointed;  ventral  disc 
circular,  more  or  less  adnate  to  abdomen;  no  dermal  flaps  on 
shoulder  girdle.  Sicydium,  p.  369. 

49.  Genus  Philypnus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes. 

Philypnus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII,  1837,  255 

(type  Gobiomorus  dormitor  Lacepede). 
Lembus  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  I,  1859,  505  (type  Lembus 

maculatus  Gunther). 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed; 
head  more  or  less  depressed  above;  mouth  large;  lower  jaw  projecting; 
teeth  small,  in  bands  on  jaws  and  on  vomer;  gill-opening  large,  extending 
forward  to  under  eye;  scales  rather  small,  ctenoid,  covering  body  and 
most  of  head;  dorsal  fins  2,  well  separated,  with  VI-I,  9  rays;  caudal  fin 
rounded;  anal  fin  with  I,  9  or  I,  10  rays. 

This  genus  consists  of  but  two  species,  both  of  which  usually  inhabit 
lowland  streams. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

a.  Scales  small,  61  to  64  in  lateral  series  from  upper  angle  of  gill- 
opening  to  base  of  caudal;  anal  rays  I,  9;  vertical  fins  with  rather 
large  black  spots,  forming  cross-bars.  dormitor,  p.  350. 

aa.  Scales  larger,  56  to  59  in  lateral  series;  anal  rays  I,  10;  vertical 
fins  with  small  and  less  distinct  blackish  spots. 

maculatus,  p.  352. 
80.  Philypnus  dormitor  (Lacepede). 

Gobiomorus  dormitor  Lacepede,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  II,  1798,  599  (Mar- 
tinique, from  a  drawing  by  Plumier);  Jordan  &  Eigenmann,  Proc. 
U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  IX,  1886,  482. 

Platycephalus  dormitator  Bloch,  Syst.  Ichthyol.,  1801,  PI.  60,  t.  12  (Mar- 
tinique). 

Ekotris  dormitatrix  Cuvier,  Regne  Animal.,  Ed.  2,  II,  1829,  246;  Gunther, 
Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  119. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    351 

Philypnus  dormitator  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII, 

J837,  255;  Poey,  Memorias,  II,  1860,  381;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer., 

Pisces,  1906,  5. 
Eleotris    longiceps    Gunther,    Proc.    Zool.    Soc.    London,    1864,    151 

(Nicaragua). 
Philypnus  dormitor  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 

1898,  2194;  Meek,  Field  Col.  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  V,  1904,  226 

(Mexico),  and  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1914,  129 

(Atlantic  slope  of  Costa  Rica). 

Head  3.2  to  4.3 ;  depth  4.65  to  6.2 ;  D.  VI-1, 9;  A.  I,  9;  scales  61  to  64. 

Body  elongate,  nearly  as  wide  as  deep  anteriorly,  compressed  poste- 
riorly; head  long,  somewhat  depressed,  its  width  at  preopercular  margin 
1.55  to  2.3  in  its  length;  the  cheeks  rounded;  snout  long,  depressed, 
2.95  to  3.6  in  head;  eye  4.75  to  7.8;  interorbital  3.7  to  6.65;  mouth  large, 
oblique;  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  reaching  middle  of  eye,  2.05  to 
2.5  in  head;  teeth  small,  pointed,  all  depressable  except  the  outer  ones, 
in  bands  on  jaws  and  on  vomer;  gill-rakers  undeveloped;  gill-arches  with 
small,  elevated  patches  of  pointed  teeth;  lateral  line  wanting;  scales 
small,  ctenoid;  origin  of  spinous  dorsal  about  an  eye's  diameter  behind 
base  of  pectorals,  the  spines  weak  and  rather  variable  in  length,  but 
never  reaching  origin  of  soft  dorsal  when  deflexed;  origin  of  soft  dorsal 
an  eye's  diameter  in  advance  of  origin  of  anal,  the  margin  convex;  caudal 
fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin  rounded;  anal  fin  similar  to  soft  dorsal; 
ventral  fins  inserted  slightly  behind  base  of  pectorals,  rather  short,  not 
nearly  reaching  vent;  pectoral  fins  reaching  to  or  beyond  tips  of  ven- 
trals,  1.53  to  1.74  in  head. 

Color  brownish.  Young  with  a  dark  lateral  band,  becoming  more 
obscure  with  age.  Back  and  sides  often  with  marbling  of  dark  brown, 
and  sometimes  with  dark  bars.  Fins  all  more  or  less  reddish  in  life. 
The  dorsals,  caudal,  and  usually  the  pectorals  and  anal  with  rather  large 
dusky  spots,  so  arranged  as  to  form  cross-bars. 

In  the  present  collections  there  are  118  specimens,  ranging  from  40 
to  359  mm.  in  length.  It  is  most  common  in  the  brackish  and  fresh 
waters  of  the  lowland  streams,  but  stragglers  occur  in  the  upper  courses 
of  the  Chagres  and  its  tributaries.  It  usually  inhabits  shallow  water 
where  it  lies  quietly  among  the  vegetation,  presumably  in  wait  for  its 
prey.  The  alimentary  canal  is  short,  and  without  blind  sacs.  It  feeds 
on  crustaceans,  fishes,  water  beetles  and  apparently  any  other  aquatic 
animal  life  of  suitable  size.  In  Panama  it  is  of  little  importance  as  a 
food  fish. 

Habitat:  Atlantic  coast  streams,  from  Texas  south  to  Brazil,  and 
the  West  Indian  Islands. 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

81.  Philypnus  macula tus  (Gunther). 

Lembus  maculatus  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  I,  1859,  505  (Andes 

of  Ecuador). 
Philypnus  lateralis  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1860,  123  (Cape  San 

Lucas);  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1898, 

2195  (Rio  Presidio,  Mazatlan). 
Ekotris  lateralis  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  122  (Cape 

San  Lucas). 
Eleotris  lembus  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  121  (Western 

Ecuador). 
Gobiomorus  lateralis  Eigenmann  &  Fordice,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila., 

1885,  69. 
Gobiomorus  maculatus  Eigenmann  &  Fordice,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila., 

1885,  70. 
Philypnus  maculatus  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1906,  5;  Meek, 

Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1914,  130  (Pacific  slope 

of  Costa  Rica). 

Head  2.75  to  3.6;  depth  4.25  to  5;  D.  VI-I,  9;  A.  1, 10  or  rarely  I,  n ; 
scales  56  to  59. 

Body  elongate;  not  much  deeper  than  wide  anteriorly,  compressed 
posteriorly;  head  long,  somewhat  depressed,  its  width  at  preopercular 
margin  1.73  to  2.2  in  its  length;  cheeks  nearly  vertical;  snout  long, 
depressed,  2.86  to  3.4  in  head;  eye  4.35  to  7.25;  interorbital  3.95  to  6; 
mouth  large,  oblique;  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  reaching  middle 
of  eye,  2.2  to  2.4  in  head;  teeth  small,  pointed,  all  depressable  except 
the  outer  ones,  in  bands  on  jaws  and  on  vomer;  gill-rakers  undeveloped; 
gill-arches  with  small,  elevated  patches  of  pointed  teeth;  lateral  line 
wanting;  scales  a  little  larger  than  in  preceding  species,  ctenoid;  origin 
of  spinous  dorsal  about  an  eye's  diameter  behind  base  of  pectorals,  the 
spines  weak  and  variable  in  length,  sometimes  reaching  origin  of  soft 
dorsal  when  deflexed;  origin  of  soft  dorsal  an  eye's  diameter  in  advance 
of  origin  of  anal,  the  rays  variable  in  length,  the  margin  convex;  caudal 
fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin  rounded;  anal  fin  similar  to  soft  dorsal; 
ventral  fins  inserted  slightly  behind  base  of  pectorals,  rather  short, 
failing  to  reach  vent;  pectoral  fins  reaching  to  or  past  tips  of  ventrals, 
1.4  to  1.84  in  head. 

Color  brownish.  Young  with  a  dark  lateral  band  or  blotches  along 
side,  the  blotches  usually  persisting.  Fins  with  much  red  in  life;  the 
dorsals,  caudal  and  usually  the  anal  with  dusky  spots,  which  are,  how- 
ever, notably  smaller  and  less  distinct  than  in  the  preceding  species; 
pectoral  fins  without  spots  or  bars. 

There  are  425  specimens  in  the  present  collection,  ranging  from  40 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    353 

to  290  mm.  in  length.  This  fish  is  abundant  in  all  the  lowland  streams 
of  the  Pacific  slope  of  Panama.  In  this  region  it  is  more  abundant  than 
its  Atlantic  congener.  What  is  stated  regarding  the  habits  of  the 
foregoing  species  applies  equally  as  well  to  the  present  species. 

This  fish  is  closely  related  to  its  Atlantic  slope  congener,  from  which 
it  can,  however,  be  readily  separated  by  the  larger  scales,  by  the  con- 
stant presence  of  one  more  ray  in  the  anal  fin  and  by  the  smaller  and  less 
distinct  dark  spots  on  the  vertical  fins.  The  body  is  also  slightly  deeper 
anteriorly  and  the  head  is  narrower. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  streams  from  Lower  California  south  to 
Ecuador. 

50.  Genus  Dormitator  Gill. 

Prochilus  Cuvier,  R£gne  Animal,  Ed.  i,  II,  1817,  294  (type  Sciana 
macrolepidota  Bloch =S«#no  maculata  Bloch).  (Name  preoccupied.) 
Dormitator  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1862,  240  (type  Eleotris  gund- 
lachi  Poey—Sciana  maculata  Bloch). 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  head  broad,  flat  above;  interorbital 
broad;  snout  obtuse;  mouth  moderate,  oblique;  the  jaws  anteriorly  of 
equal  length;  teeth  in  jaws  small,  in  bands,  with  compressed  tips,  none 
on  vomer;  gill-openings  extending  forward  to  margin  of  preopercle; 
gill-rakers  well  developed,  numerous,  each  arch  bearing  2  series;  scales 
present  on  entire  body,  upper  surface  of  head,  snout  and  on  cheeks 
and  opercles;  dorsal  fins  2,  well  separated,  the  first  with  7  feeble  spines; 
caudal  fin  rounded;  ventral  fins  close  together,  but  separate,  with  I,  5 
rays.  The  vertical  fins  notably  higher  in  males  than  in  females.  This 
genus,  as  here  understood,  consists  of  two  closely  related  species,  which, 
owing  to  a  great  deal  of  variation  among  individuals,  can  scarcely  be 
separated. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Snout  short  and  very  broad,  its  length  4  to  4.35  in  head  in  speci- 
mens from  60  to  80  mm.  in  length;  mouth  very  oblique,  margin  of 
upper  jaw  usually  slightly  above  level  of  lower  margin  of  eye; 
scales  31  to  35,  usually  33,  in  lateral  series,  8  to  n  longitudinal 
rows  between  anterior  part  of  base  of  second  dorsal  and  anal; 
ventral  fins  long,  reaching  to  or  past  vent,  1.04  to  1.43  in  head; 
pectoral  fins  reaching  vertical  from  origin  of  anal,  i  to  1.23  in 
head.  maculatus,  p.  354. 

aa.  Snout  slightly  longer  and  somewhat  narrower,  3.85  to  4.2  in 
head  in  specimens  60  to  80  mm.  in  length;  mouth  somewhat  less 
oblique,  margin  of  upper  jaw  on  or  below  level  of  lower  margin  of 
eye;  scales  34  to  37,  usually  35,  in  lateral  series,  n  or  12  longitu- 


354    FIELD  MUSEUM  OP  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

dinal  series  between  anterior  part  of  base  of  second  dorsal  and 
anal;  ventral  fins  rather  short,  failing  to  reach  vent,  1.55  to  1.9 
in  head;  pectorals  scarcely  reaching  vertical  from  vent,  1.3  to 
1.45  in  head.  latifrons,  p.  355. 

82.  Dormitator  macula tus  (Bloch). 

Sciasna  maculata  Bloch,  Naturgesch.  der  Ausland.  Fische,   1790,  PI. 

299,  fig.  2  (West  Indies). 
Eleotris  mugiloides  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII,  1837, 

226  (Martinique;  Surinam). 
tEleotris  grandisquama  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII, 

1837,  229  (America, —  locality  unknown);  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit. 

Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  113. 
Eleotris  sima  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII,  1837,  232 

(Vera  Cruz). 
Eleotris  somnokntus  Girard,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1858,  169  (near 

mouth  of  Rio  Grande). 

Eleotris  omocyaneus  Peey,  Memorias,  II,  1860,  269  (Havana). 
Eleotris  gundlachi  Poey,  Memorias,  II,  1860,  272  (Cuba). 
Eleotris  maculata  (in  part)  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861, 

112  (Trinidad;  Demerara;  Surinam). 

Dormitator  lineatus  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1863,  271  (Savannah). 
Dormitator  gundlachi  Poey,  Synopsis,  1868,  396  (Cuba). 
Dormitator  omocyaneus  Poey,  Synopsis,  1868,  396  (Cuba). 
Dormitator  maculatus  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Gilbert,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XVI,  1883,  632;  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XLVII,  1898,  2196;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1905,  8. 

Head  2.95  to  3.55;  depth  2.8  to  3.34;  D.  VII-I,  8  or  rarely  9;  A.  I,  10 
or  rarely  n;  scales  31  to  35. 

Body  rather  robust,  compressed;  head  flat  above,  its  upper  profile 
straight  or  slightly  concave  over  eyes;  snout  very  short  and  broad,  its 
length  3.85  to  4.35  in  head;  eye  lateral,  4.2  to  4.8;  interorbital  broad,  2.3 
to  3.2;  mouth  broad,  strongly  oblique,  margin  of  upper  jaw  slightly 
above  level  of  lower  margin  of  eye;  jaws  anteriorly  of  equal  length; 
width  of  mouth  at  its  posterior  angles  notably  longer  than  snout;  maxil- 
lary reaching  vertical  from  anterior  margin  of  eye,  2.95  to  3.4  in  head; 
teeth  all  small,  somewhat  compressed  at  tips,  in  a  band  in  each  jaw; 
gill-membranes  attached  to  the  isthmus,  the  openings  extending  forward 
to  margin  of  preopercle;  gill-rakers  well  developed,  a  double  series  on 
each  arch,  about  45  in  anterior  series  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales 
cycloid  on  upper  surface  of  head,  cheeks,  chest  and  predorsal  region, 
elsewhere  ctenoid;  snout  and  cheeks  completely  covered  with  scales, 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    355 

usually  33  in  a  lateral  series  (average  for  14  specimens  33);  8  to  n  rows 
between  base  of  second  dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  origin  of  first  dorsal 
midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  last  ray  of  second  dorsal,  the 
spines  weak,  usually  reaching  to  or  past  first  ray  of  second  dorsal;  origin 
of  second  dorsal  slightly  in  advance  of  origin  of  anal,  the  rays  varying 
in  length,  the  posterior  ones  the  longest,  often  reaching  base  of  caudal; 
caudal  fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin  strongly  convex;  anal  fin  similar  to 
second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  rather  long,  reaching  vent  and  sometimes  to 
or  past  origin  of  anal,  1.04  to  1.43  in  head;  pectoral  fins  long,  usually 
reaching  vertical  from  origin  of  anal,  i  to  1.23  in  head. 

Color  variable,  usually  very  dark  blue  above,  yellowish  green  bars 
below.  Young  with  oblique,  yellowish  green  bars  on  sides,  and  often 
with  a  more  or  less  distinct  dark  lateral  band.  Sides  of  head  with  from 
2  to  5  dark  lines,  these  sometimes  continued  on  body.  Dorsals  and 
sometimes  the  anal  with  dark  spots  forming  bars;  caudal  fin  dusky; 
distal  half  of  anal  usually  rusty  red,  the  margin  white;  ventrals  and 
pectorals  yellowish  green. 

There  are  at  hand  179  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  in  length 
from  35  to  115  mm.  Our  specimens  are  all  from  stagnant  brackish 
ponds  and  streams. 

Intestinal  canal  equal  to  about  twice  the  length  of  body;  air  bladder 
thin,  adnate  to  the  back.  Stomach  contents,  mud,  algae  and  other  plant 
tissue. 

Habitat:  Atlantic  coast  and  rivers  from  North  Carolina  to  southern 
Brazil  and  the  West  Indies. 

83.  Dormitator  latifrons  (Richardson). 

Eleotris  latifrons  Richardson,  Voyage  "Sulphur,"  Fishes,  1837,  57,  PI. 

35,  figs.  4  &  5  (probably  from  Pacific  coast  of  Central  America). 
Eleotris  maculata  (in  part)  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861, 

112  (Guayaquil). 
Dormitator  micropthalmus  Gill,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1863,  170 

(Panama). 
Eleotris  maculata  (non  Bloch)  Gunther,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  VI, 

1869,  440  (Huamuchal). 
Dormitator  maculatus  (non  Bloch)  Jordan  &  Gilbert,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat. 

Mus.,  IV,  1881,  232  (Cape  St.  Lucas) ;  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Gilbert,  Bull. 

U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XVI,  1883,  632;  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull. 

U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1898,  2196. 
Dormitator  latifrons  Eigenmann  &  Fordice,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila., 

1885,  72  (Pacific  coast  of  Central  America);  Regan,  Biol.  Cent. 

Amer.,  Pisces,  1905,  9. 


356    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Scarcely  distinguishable  from  D.  maculatus.  Head  3  to  3.64;  depth 
2.86  to  3.7;  D.  VII-I,  8;  A.  I,  9;  scales  34  to  37. 

Body  as  in  D.  maculatus;  the  snout  somewhat  longer  and  narrower, 
comparing  specimens  of  like  size,  2.7  to  4.5  in  head;  mouth  rather  less 
oblique,  the  margin  of  upper  jaw  on  or  below  level  of  lower  margin  of 
eye;  width  of  mouth  at  its  posterior  angles  not  much  longer  than  snout; 
maxillary  scarcely  reaching  vertical  from  anterior  margin  of  eye,  3.15 
to  3.55  in  head;  gill-rakers  apparently  more  numerous  than  in  D.  macula- 
tus, about  70  to  90  in  anterior  series  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  scales 
rather  small,  usually  35  in  a  lateral  series  (average  for  14  specimens, 
35.2+),  ii  or  12  rows  between  base  of  second  dorsal  and  base  of  anal; 
fins  rather  lower  than  in  D.  maculatus,  ventrals  failing  to  reach  vent, 
1.55  to  1.9  in  head;  pectorals  scarcely  reaching  vertical  from  vent,  1.3 
to  1.45  in  head. 

Of  this  species  71  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  40  to  235  mm., 
were  preserved.  It  was  taken  only  in  the  lower  courses  of  streams, 
seldom  far  above  the  head  of  tide.  It  was  not  taken  in  the  Rio  Tuyra 
Basin,  but  this  is  very  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  little  seining  was 
done  in  the  lower  parts  of  this  basin.  In  only  one  place,  the  Rio  Abaco 
(a  small  stagnant,  coastal  stream),  near  Panama,  was  it  taken  in  abun- 
dance. 

Habitat:  Pacific  coast  and  rivers,  from  California  to  Ecuador. 

51.  Genus  Eleotris  Bloch  &  Schneider. 

Eleotris  Gronow,  Zooph.  Gronov.,  1763,  83  (nonbinomial). 

Eleotris  Bloch  &  Schneider,  Syst.  Ichth.,  1801,  65  (type  Gobius  pisonis 

Gmelin). 

Body  elongate,  subcylindrical  anteriorly,  compressed  posteriorly; 
head  low,  more  or  less  depressed  above,  mostly  covered  with  scales, 
which  are  usually  more  or  less  embedded;  mouth  rather  large,  oblique; 
lower  jaw  projecting;  preopercle  with  a  single  concealed  spine  at  its 
lower  posterior  angle;  teeth  small,  in  bands  in  the  jaws,  none  on  vomer; 
gill-opening  not  extending  forward  to  under  eyes;  scales  moderate  or 
small;  dorsal  fins  2,  well  separated;  caudal  fin  rounded;  ventral  fins 
separate. 

KEY   TO    THE   SPECIES. 

a.  Scales  small,  63  to  75  (most  frequently  67  to  69)  in  lateral  series, 
about  22  rows  between  base  of  second  dorsal  and  base  of  anal; 
color  bluish  black  above;  no  dark  lines  along  rows  of  scales; 
ventral  surface  of  head  and  body  marbled  or  spotted  with  light 
and  dark  markings.  picta,  p.  357. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    357 

aa.  Scales  somewhat  larger,  59  to  68  (most  frequently  64)  in  a  lateral 
series,  about  18  rows  between  base  of  second  dorsal  and  base  of 
anal;  color  brownish,  paler  below  than  above;  rows  of  scales 
everywhere  with  dark  lines;  ventral  surface  of  head  and  body 
uniform  brownish.  pisonis,  p.  358. 

aaa.  Scales  rather  large,  44  to  54  in  a  lateral  series,  about  12  rows 
between  base  of  second  dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  color  as  in  E. 
pisonis.  isthmensis  sp.  nov.,  p.  359. 

84.  Eleotris  picta  Kner  &  Steindachner. 

Eleotris  picta  Kner  &  Steindachner,  Abhandl.  K.  Bayer.  Ak.  Wiss. 

Munchen,  X,   1864,   18,  PI.  Ill,  fig.    i    (Rio  Bayano,  Panama); 

Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1906,  8. 
Culius  aquidens  Jordan  &  Gilbert,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  IV,  1881,  461 

(Rio  Presidio  near  Mazatlan). 
Eleotris  pictus  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1898, 

2201. 

Head  3  to  3.25;  depth  4.45  to  5.55;  D.  VI-I,  8;  A.  I,  8;  scales  63 

toys- 
Body  elongate,  subcylindrical  anteriorly,  compressed  posteriorly; 
head  depressed  above,  the  profile  concave  over  eyes;  snout  rather  short 
and  broad,  3.56  to  4.95  in  head;  eye  5.55  to  8.85;  interorbital  3.3  to  5.35: 
mouth  large,  oblique;  the  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  not  quite 
reaching  posterior  margin  of  eye  in  young,  but  reaching  past  this  point 
in  adults;  cheeks  with  small,  partly  embedded  scales,  visible  only  in 
young;  chin,  cheeks  and  snout  in  young  with  lines  of  pores,  forming  a 
net  work,  these  visible  only  in  specimens  of  less  than  100  mm.  in  length; 
a  concealed  preopercular  spine,  directed  downward  and  slightly  for- 
ward; teeth  small,  pointed,  in  bands;  gill-rakers  undeveloped;  gill- 
membranes  attached  to  the  isthmus;  scales  very  small  (average  in 
lateral  series,  for  27  specimens,  69—),  about  22  longitudinal  series 
between  soft  dorsal  and  anal,  those  on  anterior  part  of  body  more  or 
less  embedded  (in  very  large  examples  they  are  more  or  less  embedded 
over  the  entire  body);  scales  on  sides  posteriorly  distinctly  ctenoid, 
except  in  very  large  specimens,  in  which  they  become  smoother;  origin 
of  first  dorsal  about  midway  between  end  of  snout  and  tips  of  rays  of 
second  dorsal,  the  spines  weak,  the  longest  not  much  longer  than  snout; 
origin  of  second  dorsal  about  an  eye's  diameter  in  advance  of  origin  of 
anal,  the  margin  of  the  fin  convex;  caudal  fin  with  small  scales  on  base, 
the  margin  strongly  convex;  anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal;  ventral 
fins  rather  small,  inserted  under  base  of  pectorals;  pectoral  fins  moder- 
ate, reaching  well  beyond  the  tips  of  the  ventrals,  1.36  to  1.77  in  head. 


3$8    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Color  bluish  black  above,  paler  below;  ventral  surface  of  head  and 
body  marbled  or  spotted  with  light  and  dark  markings.  These  mark- 
ings become  obscure  in  large  examples  (250  mm.  and  more  in  length). 
No  dark  lines  along  the  rows  of  scales.  Fins  all  with  dark  and  pale 
markings,  forming  alternating  dark  and  pale  bars,  these  also  become 
obscure  and  disappear  in  large  individuals. 

This  species  is  represented  by  56  specimens,  ranging  from  60  to  440 
mm.  in  length.  It  is  common,  but  not  abundant,  in  the  lowland  streams 
on  the  Pacific  coast  of  Panama  eastward  to  the  Rio  Bayano,  but  it  was 
not  taken  in  the  Rio  Tuyra. 

The  alimentary  canal  is  short,  no  pyloric  cceca;  air  bladder  thin, 
adnate  to  the  back.  One  specimen,  370  mm.  in  length,  had  swallowed 
a  fish  (Philypnus  maculatus)  210  mm.  in  length.  The  head  of  this  mor- 
sel was  at  the  vent  and  partly  digested,  and  the  tail  was  visible  in  the 
mouth. 

This  species  is  closely  related  to  E.  pisonis,  from  which  it  apparently 
differs  only  in  the  characters  mentioned  in  the  key. 

Habitat:  West  coast  and  streams,  from  California  to  Panama  and 
Ecuador. 

85.  Eleotris  pisonis  (Gmelin). 

Gobius  pisonis  Gmelin,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.,  1788,  1206  (based  on  Eleotris 

capite  plagioplateo  Gronow,   Mus.  Ichth.,  II,  1757,  168,  which  in 

turn  was  based  on  A  more  pixuma  Marcgrave  &  Piso,  Hist.  Brasil., 

IV,  1648,  166  (Brazil)). 
Gobius  amorea  Walbaum,  Artedi  Piscium,  III,  1792,  205   (based  on 

Eleotris  capite  plagioplateo  Gronow). 
Eleotris  pisonis  Schneider,  in  Bloch's  Syst.  Ichthyol.,  1801,  68;  Eigen- 

mann  &  Fordice,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1885,  75;  Jordan  & 

Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1898,  2200;  Regan,  Biol. 

Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1905,  7. 
Eleotris  gyrinus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII,  1837, 

220,  PI.  356  (Martinique;  San  Domingo;  Surinam). 
Culius  perniger  Cope,  Proc.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  1870,  473  (Brazil). 
Culius  belizianus  Sauvage,  Bull.  Soc.  Philom.  Paris,  1879,  55  (Belize; 

Cayenne). 

Head  2.9  to  3.23;  depth  4.12  to  6;  D.  VI-I,  8;  A.  I,  8;  scales  59 
to  68. 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed,  a 
little  deeper  and  somewhat  more  rubust  than  in  E.  picta,  this  difference 
being  most  evident  in  a  comparison  of  specimens  of  like  size;  head  some- 
what depressed  above,  the  profile  concave  over  eyes;  snout  broad,  3.85 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    359 

to  4.85  in  head;  eye  5.13  to  6.4;  interorbital  3.65  to  6;  mouth  rather 
large,  oblique;  the  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  scarcely  reaching 
middle  of  eye  in  young,  reaching  past  this  point  in  adult,  2.44  to  3.25 
in  head;  cheeks  with  partly  embedded  scales;  chin,  cheeks  and  snout 
with  rows  of  pores,  forming  a  net-work,  these  most  distinct  in  young;  a 
concealed  preopercular  spine,  directed  downward  and  forward;  teeth 
small,  pointed,  in  bands;  gill-rakers  undeveloped;  gill-membranes 
attached  to  the  isthmus;  scales  small  (average  in  lateral  series,  for  16 
specimens,  64+),  about  18  longitudinal  rows  between  base  of  second 
dorsal  and  anal,  those  on  anterior  part  of  body  more  or  less  embedded, 
but  less  so  than  in  E.  picta;  scales  on  posterior  part  of  body  distinctly 
ctenoid,  those  on  anterior  part  of  body  and  abdomen  smooth;  origin  of 
first  dorsal  midway  between  end  of  snout  and  tips  of  rays  of  second 
dorsal,  the  spines  short  and  weak,  reaching  second  dorsal  when  deflexed; 
origin  of  second  dorsal  an  eye's  diameter  in  advance  of  origin  of  anal; 
caudal  fin  with  small  scales  on  base,  its  margin  convex;  anal  fin  similar 
to  second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  rather  small,  inserted  under  base  of 
pectorals;  pectoral  fins  moderate,  reaching  well  beyond  tips  of  ventrals, 
1.3  to  1.54  in  head. 

Color  rusty  brown  above,  pale  brown  below;  rows  of  scales  every- 
where with  dark  lines.  Dorsal  fins  and  sometimes  the  caudal  and  anal 
also  with  dark  and  yellow  spots  or  bars;  pectoral  and  ventral  fins  yellow- 
ish green. 

This  species  is  represented  by  16  specimens,  ranging  from  45  to  125 
mm.  in  length.  It  was  found  in  the  lower  courses  of  the  Rio  Chagres 
and  its  tributaries,  small  coastal  streams  at  Porto  Bello  and  in  the  upper 
courses  of  the  Rio  Trinidad,  It  is  much  less  abundant  and  apparently 
reaches  a  smaller  size  in  Panama  than  its  Pacific  coast  congener.  It 
was  always  found  in  strictly  fresh  water. 

Habitat:  Atlantic  coast  and  rivers,  from  Florida  to  southern  Brazil, 
and  the  West  Indies. 

86.  Eleotris  isthmensis  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8951,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  85  mm.;  Mindi,  Canal  Zone, 
Panama. 

Head  2.85  to  3.25;  depth  4.2  to  5.4;  D.  VI-I,  8;  A.  I,  8;  scales  44  to 

54- 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed; 
head  somewhat  depressed  above,  the  profile  slightly  concave  over  eyes; 
snout  broad,  4.1  to  5  in  head;  eye  4.22  to  5.8;  interorbital  3.8  to  5.2; 
mouth  rather  large,  oblique;  the  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  reach- 
ing to  or  past  middle  of  eye,  2.6  to  3.3  in  head;  cheeks  with  partly  em- 


360    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

bedded  scales;  chin,  cheeks  and  snout  with  rows  of  pores,  forming  a  net 
work,  these  most  distinct  in  young;  a  concealed  preopercular  spine, 
directed  downward  and  forward;  teeth  small,  pointed,  in  bands;  gill- 
rakers  undeveloped;  gill-membranes  attached  to  isthmus;  scales  rather 
large  (average  in  lateral  series,  for  25  specimens,  48—),  about  12  longi- 
tudinal rows  of  scales  between  base  of  second  dorsal  and  anal,  all  the 
scales  ctenoid,  except  the  small  scales  in  advance  of  dorsal  and  on  abdo- 
men; origin  of  first  dorsal  midway  between  end  of  snout  and  tips  of 
rays  of  second  dorsal,  the  spines  short  and  weak,  reaching  origin  of 
second  dorsal;  origin  of  second  dorsal  an  eye's  diameter  in  advance  of 
anal;  caudal  fin  with  small  scales  at  base,  its  margin  strongly  convex; 
anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  rather  small,  inserted  under 
base  of  pectorals;  pectoral  fins  rather  long,  reaching  well  beyond  the  tips 
of  ventrals,  1.13  to  1.45  in  head. 

Color  uniform  brownish,  somewhat  paler  below  than  above.  Rows 
of  scales  with  dark  stripes;  dorsal  fins  and  caudal  and  sometimes  the 
anal  with  light  and  dark  spots  or  bars;  ventrals  and  pectorals  plain 
dusky  brown. 

We  have  57  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  from  19  to  85  mm.  in 
length.  All  are  from  the  lowland  streams,  ditches  and  ponds  on  the 
Atlantic  coast.  A  few  of  the  specimens  were  taken  in  strictly  fresh 
water,  but  the  majority  of  them  are  from  brackish  and  salt  water. 

This  species  differs  from  E.  pisonis  principally  in  the  notably  larger 
scales.  We  have  designated  as  the  type  a  specimen  85  mm.  in  length 
from  Mindi,  Canal  Zone. 

52.  Genus  Guavina  Bleeker. 

Guavina  Bleeker,  Esquisse  d'un  Syst.  Nat.  Gobioid.,  1874,  302  (type 

Eleotris  guavina  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes). 

This  genus  is  related  to  Eleotris,  from  which  it  differs  in  the  structure 
of  the  skull,  the  absence  of  the  preopercular  spine  and  in  the  very  small 
scales,  usually  100  or  more  in  a  lateral  series. 

87.  Guavina  guavina  (Cuvier  &  Valenciennes). 

Eleotris  guavina  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII,  1837, 
223  (Martinique);  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  124 
(Demerara);  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1905,  7. 

Guavina  guavina  Eigenmann  &  Fordice,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila., 
l885>  73;  Jordan  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  IX,  1886, 
483;  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1898, 
2198. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    361 

Head  3.25  to  3.6;  depth  4.65  to  5.5;  D.  VII-I,  10;  A.  I,  10;  scales  95 
to  115. 

Body  subcylindrical  anteriorly,  compressed  posteriorly;  head  some- 
what depressed,  wider  than  deep,  the  upper  profile  slightly  convex; 
snout  blunt,  3.3  to  3.8  in  head;  eye  small,  4.9  to  6.15;  interorbital  2.7 
to  3.33;  mouth  rather  large,  oblique;  the  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxil- 
lary reaching  a  little  past  middle  of  eye,  2.22  to  2.35  in  head;  cheeks 
and  most  of  head  with  scales;  teeth  small,  pointed,  in  bands;  gill-rakers 
little  developed;  gill-membranes  attached  to  the  isthmus;  scales  very 
small,  those  on  anterior  part  of  body  and  head  and  abdomen  smooth, 
those  on  posterior  part  of  body  ctenoid;  origin  of  first  dorsal  about  mid- 
way between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  last  ray  of  second  dorsal,  the  spines 
rather  short  and  weak,  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  second  dorsal;  origin 
of  second  dorsal  about  an  eye's  diameter  in  advance  of  origin  of  anal, 
the  posterior  rays  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  base  of  caudal;  caudal  fin 
short,  with  small  scales  at  base,  its  margin  rounded;  anal  fin  similar  to 
second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  rather  small,  inserted  under  base  of  pectorals; 
pectoral  fins  rather  short,  reaching  but  little  past  tips  of  ventrals,  1.3 
to  1.7  in  head. 

Color  bluish  black  above,  brownish  below.  Fins  in  spirits  dusky  or 
black;  the  dorsals,  anal  and  ventrals  all  with  pale  margin. 

There  are  5  specimens,  ranging  from  105  to  185  mm.  in  length,  in  the 
present  collection.  These  were  taken  in  brackish  ditches  and  creeks  at 
Colon  and  Toro  Point. 

Habitat:  Atlantic  coast  and  rivers  from  Mexico  to  Brazil  and  the 
West  Indies. 

53.  Leptophilypnus  gen.  nov. 

Type  Leptophilypnus  fluwatilis  sp.  nov. 

Body  shaped  as  in  Philypnus.  The  head,  chest  and  predorsal  region 
naked;  mouth  large,  oblique;  eyes  not  wholly  lateral;  interorbital  nar- 
row; dentary  bones  meeting  under  posterior  angle  of  mouth;  leaving  an 
oval-shaped  naked  area  at  chin;  preopercular  spine  wanting;  teeth  all 
small,  pointed,  in  broad  bands  in  the  jaws,  none  on  vomer.  Gill- 
opening  extending  forward  nearly  to  vertical  from  posterior  margin  of 
eye.  Readily  distinguished  from  all  other  Eleolridina  by  the  broad  and 
expanded  dentary  bones.  Carniverous. 

88.  Leptophilypnus  fluviatilis  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8952,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  46  mm.;  Mindi,  Canal  Zone, 
Panama. 

Head  3.06  to  3.4;  depth  5.25  to  5.86;  D.  VI-I,  9;  A.  I,  9;  scales 
30  to  34. 


362     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed; 
head  as  wide  as  deep,  its  width  at  preopercular  margin  1.7  to  2  in  its 
length,  the  upper  profile  straight  or  slightly  convex;  snout  rather  broad, 
3.7  to  4.1  in  head;  eye  moderate,  partly  superior,  4.15  to  5.86;  inter- 
orbital  narrow,  8.75  to  10;  mouth  large,  oblique;  the  lower  jaw  strongly 
projecting;  maxillary  reaching  to  or  past  middle  of  eye,  2  to  2.5  in  head; 
teeth  all  small,  pointed,  in  a  broad  band  in  each  jaw;  gill-membranes 
rather  narrowly  connected  with  the  isthmus,  the  opening  extending 
forward  to  vertical  from  posterior  margin  of  eye;  scales  rather  large, 
thin,  weakly  ctenoid,  none  on  head,  chest  or  predorsal  region,  7  or  8 
rows  between  base  of  second  dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  origin  of  first  dorsal 
about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  last  ray  of  second  dorsal, 
the  spines  weak,  the  longest  reaching  opposite  first  or  second  ray  of 
second  dorsal  when  deflexed;  origin  of  second  dorsal  slightly  in  advance 
of  origin  of  anal,  the  rays  rapidly  increasing  in  length  posteriorly,  the 
longest  reaching  base  of  caudal  in  our  largest  examples,  proportionately 
shorter  in  the  smaller  ones;  caudal  fin  with  only  a  few  scales  at  base, 
the  margin  rounded;  anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  rather 
long,  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  vent;  pectoral  fins  reaching  opposite 
origin  of  anal,  1.12  to  1.38  in  head. 

Color  olivacious;  back  and  sides  with  dark  points  and  blotches;  4  or 
5  saddle-like  bars  on  back;  a  series  of  elongate  blotches  on  median  line 
of  side;  caudal  spot  present.  Dorsals  and  caudal  with  dark  bars;  anal 
fin  dusky;  other  fins  unmarked. 

We  have  40  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  from  38  to  64  mm.  in 
length.  These  were  all  taken  in  a  very  muddy  brackish  creek  at  Mindi 
near  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  Canal  Zone. 

The  intestinal  canal  is  short;  the  air  bladder  thin,  adnate  to  the 
back.  The  ovaries  in  specimens  (captured  on  Jan.  28,  1911)  only  45 
mm.  in  length  are  distended  with  well  developed  eggs,  showing  that 
individuals  of  this  size  are  mature. 

54.  Microeleotris  gen.  nov. 

Type  Microeleotris  panamensis  sp.  nov. 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  depressed,  caudal  peduncle  compressed; 
head  low  and  broad;  eyes  superior;  interorbital  narrow;  mouth  large, 
oblique;  lower  jaw  strongly  projecting;  gill-openings  extending  forward 
to  vertical  from  posterior  margin  of  eyes;  no  preopercular  spine;  teeth 
all  small,  pointed,  in  bands  on  the  jaws,  none  on  vomer;  scales  large, 
ctenoid,  head,  chest  and  part  of  abdomen  naked;  dorsal  fins  2,  well 
separated;  caudal  fin  rounded;  ventral  fins  separate,  I,  5.  Carniverous. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    363 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES. 

a.     Scales  in  lateral  series  33  to  36;  second  dorsal  with  I,  8  rays;  anal 

I,  8.  panamensis  sp.  nov.,  p.  363. 

aa.     Scales  in  lateral  series  3  o  to  3  2 ;  second  dorsal  with  1 , 9  rays ;  anal  1,9. 

mindii  sp.  nov.,  p.  364. 
89.  Microeleotris  panamensis  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8953,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  50  mm.;  Rio  Juan  Diaz, 
Panama. 

Head  3. 25  to  3. 6;  depth 4.75  to  5.5;  D.  VI-I,  8;  A.  1, 8;  scales  33  to  36. 

Body  anteriorly  depressed;  caudal  peduncle  compressed;  head  de- 
pressed, notably  wider  than  deep,  its  width  at  preopercular  margin  1.25 
to  1.42  in  its  length;  the  upper  profile  slightly  convex;  snout  tapering, 
its  length  3.4  to  4  in  head;  eye  rather  small,  superior,  4  to  5.64;  inter- 
orbital  narrow,  5.5  to  7.25  in  head;  mouth  rather  large,  oblique;  the 
lower  jaw  strongly  projecting;  maxillary  scarcely  reaching  middle  of 
eye,  2.04  to  2.8  in  head;  teeth  all  small,  pointed,  in  bands  in  the  jaws; 
gill-membranes  rather  narrowly  attached  to  the  isthmus,  the  openings 
extending  forward  to  vertical  from  posterior  margin  of  eye;  scales  large, 
ctenoid,  none  on  head,  chest  and  abdomen,  7  or  8  rows  between  base  of 
dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  origin  of  first  dorsal  about  midway  between  tip 
of  snout  and  base  of  last  ray  of  second  dorsal,  the  spines  short  and  weak, 
reaching  second  dorsal  when  deflexed;  origin  of  second  dorsal  slightly  in 
advance  of  origin  of  anal,  the  rays  short;  caudal  fin  not  scaly  at  base,  its 
margin  evenly  convex;  anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal;  ventral  fins 
short,  failing  to  reach  vent,  inserted  under  base  of  pectorals;  pectoral 
fins  moderate,  1.18  to  1.4  in  head. 

Color  grayish  brown  above,  pale  below.  Body  above  and  on  sides 
spotted  and  marbled  with  dark  markings;  back  sometimes  with  a  few 
dark  saddle-like  bars;  sides  often  with  quadrate  blotches;  a  more  or  less 
distinct  caudal  spot  present.  Dorsals,  caudal,  and  usually  the  pectorals 
spotted  and  barred  with  dark  markings;  anal  and  ventrals  pale  or  dusky. 

This  species  is  represented  by  38  specimens,  ranging  from  30  to  58 
mm.  in  length.  These  were  taken  in  fresh  water,  not  far  above  the  head 
of  tide,  in  the  Rio  Chorrera  near  Chorrera  and  in  the  Rio  Juan  Diaz  at 
Juan  Diaz  on  the  Pacific  slope. 

The  intestinal  canal  is  short.  The  stomachs  examined  contained 
small  molluscs,  principally  snails.  The  ovaries  in  two  specimens,  each 
about  45  mm.  in  length,  taken  on  April  4,  1911,  were  distended  with 
well  developed  eggs,  showing  that  fish  of  this  size  are  mature. 

A  specimen  50  mm.  in  length  from  the  Rio  Juan  Diaz  has  been 
designated  as  the  type. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  of  Central  Panama. 


364    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

90.  Microeleotrls  mindii  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  8954,  F.  M.  N.  H.;  length  55  mm.;  Mindi,  Canal  Zone, 
Panama. 

Head  3.2  to  3.5;  depth  4.83  to  6.68;  D.  VI-I,  9;  A.  I,  9;  scales  30  to 

32- 

Body  anteriorly  depressed;  caudal  peduncle  compressed;  head  low, 
wider  than  deep,  the  width  at  preopercular  margin  1.45  to  1.75  in  its 
length;  snout  broad,  3.25  to  4  in  head;  eye  superior,  3.7  to  4.65;  inter- 
orbital  very  narrow,  8.65  to  12;  mouth  rather  large,  oblique;  lower  jaw 
strongly  projecting;  maxillary  scarcely  reaching  opposite  middle  of  eye, 
2.17  to  2.6  in  head;  teeth  all  small,  pointed,  in  bands  in  the  jaws;  gill- 
membranes  narrowly  attached  to  the  isthmus,  the  openings  extending 
forward  to  nearly  under  posterior  margin  of  eye;  scales  large,  ctenoid; 
head,  predorsal  region,  chest  and  median  line  of  abdomen  naked;  7  rows 
between  base  of  second  dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  origin  of  first  dorsal 
about  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  last  ray  of  second  dorsal, 
the  spines  weak,  reaching  second  dorsal;  origin  of  second  dorsal  a  little 
in  advance  of  origin  of  anal,  the  rays  short;  caudal  fin  without  small 
scales  on  base,  the  margin  rounded;  anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal; 
ventral  fins  short,  failing  to  reach  vent,  inserted  under  base  of  pectorals; 
pectoral  fins  moderate,  reaching  past  tips  of  ventrals,  1.13  to  1.5  in  head. 

Color  olivaceous;  the  back  with  4  dark  saddle-like  blotches;  median 
line  of  sides  with  elongate  dark  blotches;  a  small  caudal  spot  present. 
Dorsals  and  caudal  with  indistinct  dark  bars  or  spots;  anal  fin  with 
more  or  less  dusky,  other  fins  unmarked. 

We  have  51  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  from  30  to  56  mm.  in 
length.  These  were  taken  in  a  brackish  creek  at  Mindi  near  the  Atlan- 
tic coast  of  the  Canal  Zone. 

This  species  differs  from  M.  panamensis  in  the  somewhat  less  strongly 
depressed  body,  narrower  interorbital,  fewer  scales  in  the  lateral  series, 
one  more  ray  each  in  the  second  dorsal  and  anal,  and  in  the  lighter 
coloration. 

A  specimen  55  mm.  in  length  has  been  designated  as  the  type. 

55.  Hemieleotris  gen.  nov. 

Type  Ekotris  latifasciatus  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 

Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1912,  68. 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  head  compressed,  not  flat  above,  mostly 
covered  with  scales,  the  upper  surface  from  eyes  forward  naked;  mouth 
moderate,  oblique;  lower  jaw  projecting;  no  preopercular  spine;  teeth 
small,  in  bands  on  the  jaws,  none  on  vomer;  gill-openings  extending 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    365 

forward  to  posterior  margin  of  eye;  scales  large,  ctenoid,  present  on 
body  and  chest;  dorsal  fins  2,  well  separated;  caudal  fin  rounded;  ven- 
tral fins  separate.  Carniverous. 

91.  Hemieleotris  latifasciatus  (Meek  &  Hildebrand). 

Eleotris  latifasciatus  Meek  &  Hildebrand,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 

Zoot.  Ser.,  X,   1912,  68  (Rio  Cardenas,  Pacific   slope,   Panama); 

Meek,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  X,  1914,  131  (Jesus 

Maria,  Costa  Rica). 

Head  3.4  to  4;  depfh  3.6  to  4.75;  D.  VI-I,  9;  A.  I,  10;  scales  35 
to  39. 

Body  compressed;  head  compressed,  notably  deeper  than  broad,  not 
flat  above,  profile  straight  or  slightly  concave  over  eyes;  snout  tapering, 
3.8  to  4.7  in  head;  eye  rather  large,  3.5  to  4.15;  interorbital  3.9  to  5.2; 
mouth  moderate,  oblique;  the  lower  jaw  projecting;  maxillary  reaching 
to  or  slightly  past  anterior  margin  of  eye,  3.25  to  3.9  in  head;  teeth  small, 
pointed,  in  bands  in  the  jaws;  gill-rakers  feebly  developed;  gill-mem- 
branes attached  to  the  isthmus,  the  openings  extending  forward  to 
under  posterior  margin  of  eye;  scales  large,  ctenoid,  10  or  n  rows  be- 
tween base  of  second  dorsal  and  base  of  anal;  origin  of  first  dorsal  about 
midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  last  ray  of  second  dorsal,  the 
spines  weak,  the  anterior  ones  somewhat  produced,  reaching  opposite 
the  second  or  third  ray  of  second  dorsal;  origin  of  second  dorsal  slightly 
in  advance  of  origin  of  anal,  or  about  midway  between  middle  of  eye  and 
base  of  caudal;  caudal  fin  with  a  few  small  scales  at  base,  its  margin 
rounded;  anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  long,  reaching 
vent,  inserted  under  base  of  pectorals;  pectoral  fins  moderate,  reaching 
tips  of  ventrals,  1.04  to  1.25  in  head. 

Color  dark  green  above,  paler  below.  Sides  with  a  well  defined, 
black  band,  extending  from  tip  of  snout  through  eye  to  and  on  base  of 
caudal.  Fins  unmarked. 

This  species  is  represented  by  n  specimens,  ranging  from  27  to  80 
mm.  in  length.  This  fish  was  taken  in  fresh  water  streams  on  the 
Pacific  slope  from  the  Rio  Chorrera  to  the  Rio  Bayano. 

The  air  bladder  is  thin,  adnate  to  the  back;  intestine  very  short; 
stomach  without  blind  sacs. 

Habitat:  Pacific  slope  rivers,  from  Costa  Rica  to  Panama. 

56.  Genus  Awaous  Steindachner. 

Awaous  Steindachner,  Verh.  Mat.  Phys.  Naturw.,  1860,   289   (after 
Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  les  Awaous  (ocularis,  etc.)). 


366    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Chonophorus  Poey,  Memories,  II,  1861,  274  (type  Chonophorus  buc- 

culentus  Poey  =  Gobius  taiasica  Lichtenstein). 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed; 
head  rather  low  and  broad;  eyes  placed  high;  mouth  large,  horizontal; 
upper  jaw  more  or  less  projecting;  the  lips  thickened;  shoulder  girdle 
with  2  or  more  dermal  flaps,  projecting  into  gill-cavity  and  covered  by 
opercle;  gill-openings  rather  small,  scarcely  produced  forward;  teeth 
pointed,  in  narrow  bands  in  the  jaws,  none  on  vomer;  scales  small,  mostly 
ctenoid;  head  and  chest  mostly  naked;  dorsal  fins  2,  well  separated; 
caudal  fin  rounded;  ventral  fins  completely  united,  forming  a  disc,  free 
from  the  body.  This  genus  is  represented  by  2  species  in  Panama,  which 
are  closely  related,  but  differ  somewhat  in  several  characters. 

KEY   TO   THE    SPECIES. 

a.  Scales  very  small,  69  to  76  in  lateral  series;  about  20  rows  between 
base  of  anterior  rays  of  second  dorsal  and  anal;  mouth  moderate, 
the  maxillary  failing  to  reach  vertical  from  anterior  margin  of 
eye,  about  2.7  in  head  in  specimens  150  mm.  in  length;  fins  low, 
the  spinous  dorsal  failing  to  reach  origin  of  second  dorsal  when 
deflexed;  sides  with  dark  blotches,  but  without  black  cross-bars. 

taiasica,  p.  366. 

aa.  Scales  somewhat  larger,  60  to  67  in  lateral  series,  about  16  rows 
between  base  of  anterior  rays  of  second  dorsal  and  anal;  mouth 
large,  the  maxillary  reaching  vertical  from  anterior  margin  of 
eye,  about  2.1  in  head  in  specimens  150  mm.  in  length;  fins  high, 
the  spinous  dorsal  usually  reaching  to  or  past  origin  of  second 
dorsal  when  deflexed;  sides  with  dark  blotches  and  with  narrow, 
black  cross-bars.  transandeanus,  p.  368. 

92.  Awaous  taiasica  (Lichtenstein). 

Gobius  taiasica  Lichtenstein,  Berl.  Abhandl.,  1822,  273  (Brazil). 

Gobius  banana  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII,  1837,  103 

(San  Domingo);  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  59. 
Gobius  martinicus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII,  1837, 

105  (Martinique). 

Chonophorus  bucculentus  Poey,  Memorias,  II,  1861,  275  (Cuba). 
Rhinogobius  contractus  Poey,  Memorias,  II,  1861,  424  (Cuba). 
Rhinogobius  bucculentus  Poey,  Synopsis,  1868,  394. 
Gobius  dolichocephalus  Cope,  Trans.  Amer.  Philo.  Soc.  Phila.,  1869,  403 

(near  Orizaba,  Mexico). 
Euctenogobius  latus  O'Shaughnessy,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  4, 

XV,  1875,  146  (Bahia,  Brazil). 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    367 

Chonophorus  taiasica  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat. 

Mus.,  IX,  1886,   500;  Meek,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Zool. 

Ser.,  X,  1914,  131  (East  slope  of  Costa  Rica). 
Chonophorus  mexicanus  Jordan  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

IX,  1886,  501  (Eastern  slope  of  Mexico). 

Awaous  taiasica  Jordan,  Proc.  Cal.  Ac.  Sci.,  ad  Ser.,  V,  1895, 494  (Presi- 
dio) ;  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 

1898,  2236. 
Awaous  mexicanus  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 

1898,  2237. 
Chonophorus   banana    (in    part)    Regan,    Biol.    Cent.   Amer.,   Pisces, 

1905,  ii. 

Head  3.4  to  3.9;  depth  4.75  to  5.55;  D.  VI-I,  10;  A.  I,  10;  scales  69 
to  76. 

Body  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed;  head  rather 
large,  wider  than  deep;  snout  long,  2.04  to  2.6  in  head;  eye  small,  5.25 
to  7.5;  interorbital  6.25  to  9.7;  mouth  large,  horizontal;  upper  jaw  pro- 
jecting, the  lip  thickened;  maxillary  not  quite  reaching  anterior  margin 
of  eye,  2.5  to  3  in  head;  teeth  small,  pointed,  in  a  narrow  band  in  each 
jaw;  gill-openings  rather  small,  the  membranes  broadly  attached  to 
isthmus;  scales  small,  ctenoid,  except  the  reduced  scales  on  predorsal 
region  and  abdomen;  about  20  rows  of  scales  between  anterior  rays  of 
second  dorsal  and  anal;  head  and  chest  mostly  naked;  origin  of  first 
dorsal  notably  nearer  snout  than  base  of  last  ray  of  second  dorsal,  the 
spines  short  and  weak,  rarely  reaching  second  dorsal;  origin  of  second 
dorsal  about  midway  between  posterior  margin  of  eye  and  base  of  cau- 
dal, the  rays  rather  short;  caudal  fin  scaly  at  base,  the  margin  rounded; 
anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  not  much  longer  than  snout; 
pectoral  fins  rather  short,  1.3  to  1.73  in  head. 

Color  yellowish  green;  back  and  sides  spotted  and  mottled  with 
dark  brown;  a  series  of  dark  blotches  along  side;  sides  of  head  usually 
with  a  few  dark  stripes.  Dorsals,  caudal  and  sometimes  the  pectorals 
with  dark  spots  on  the  rays  forming  cross-bars;  pectorals  with  a  short 
black  bar  at  base  of  upper  rays,  running  downward  and  backward; 
anal  and  ventrals  unmarked. 

Of  this  species  we  have  48  specimens,  ranging  from  50  to  215  mm.  in 
length.  These  were  taken  at  various  places  in  the  Chagres  Basin,  but 
always  in  fresh  water,  most  usually  in  the  lower  courses  of  the  streams, 
but  a  few  of  them  are  from  the  Upper  Chagres. 

We  have  compared  specimens  from  Guatemala  and  Costa  Rica  with 
our  Panama  material  and  find  that  the  differences  between  the  Pacific 
and  Atlantic  slope  forms  as  set  forth  in  the  above  key  also  are  true  for 


368    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

these  specimens.    It  is  probable  that  all  the  Atlantic  slope  specimens 
from  Mexico  to  Brazil  belong  to  this  species. 

Habitat:  Atlantic  slope  rivers,  from  Mexico  south  to  Brazil,  and  the 
West  Indies. 

93.  Awaous  transandeanus  (Giinther). 

Gobius  transandeanus  Gunther,  Cat.  Fish.  Brit.  Mus.,  Ill,  1861,  62 

(Western  Ecuador). 
Chonophorus  taiasica  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat. 

Mus.,  IX,  1886,  500. 
Awaous  taiasica  (in  part)  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

XLVII,  1898,  2236. 
Awaous  nelsoni  Evermann,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XII,  1898,  3  (Sinaloa, 

Mexico);  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII,  1898, 

2235- 
Gobius  giintheri  Regan,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7,  XII,  1903,  629 

(Western  Ecuador). 
Chonophorus  transandeanus  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1905,  12; 

Meek,    Field   Mus.   Nat.  Hist.    Pub.,    Zool.    Ser.,   X,    1914,    131 

(West  slope  of  Costa  Rica). 

Head  3  to  3.8;  depth  5.1  to  5.9;  D.  VI-I,  10;  A.  I,  10;  scales  60 
to  67. 

Body  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed;  head  large; 
wider  than  deep;  snout  long,  2.1  to  2.5  in  head;  eye  small,  5  to  6.9;  inter- 
orbital  6.5  to  10 ;  mouth  large,  horizontal;  upper  jaw  projecting,  the  lips 
much  thickened;  maxillary  reaching  vertical  from  anterior  margin  of 
eye,  2  to  3.1  in  head;  teeth  small,  pointed,  in  a  narrow  band  in  each  jaw; 
scales  rather  larger  than  in  A.  taiasica,  about  16  rows  between  anterior 
rays  of  second  dorsal  and  anal;  head  and  chest  mostly  naked;  origin  of 
first  dorsal  slightly  nearer  tip  of  snout  than  base  of  last  ray  of  second 
dorsal,  the  spines  of  moderate  length,  usually  reaching  to  or  more  often 
past  origin  of  second  dorsal;  origin  of  second  dorsal  a  little  in  advance  of 
anal,  about  midway  between  anterior  margin  of  eye  and  base  of  caudal, 
the  rays  rather  long;  caudal  fin  scaly  at  base,  its  margin  rounded;  anal 
fin  similar  to  second  dorsal;  ventral  fins  somewhat  longer  than  snout; 
pectoral  fins  of  moderate  length,  1.38  to  1.8  in  head. 

Color  yellowish  green;  back  and  sides  with  dark  markings;  a  series 
of  dark  blotches  along  median  line  of  side,  at  each  blotch  there  is  a 
narrow,  black  cross-bar;  sides  of  head  with  dark  bars.  Dorsals,  caudal 
and  usually  also  the  pectorals  with  dark  spots  on  the  rays,  forming  cross- 
bars; pectoral  with  a  short  black  bar  at  base  of  upper  rays,  running  back- 
ward and  downward;  anal  and  ventrals  unmarked. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    369 

This  species  is  represented  by  over  100  specimens,  ranging  from  33  to 
200  mm.  in  length.  Common  in  all  the  streams  of  the  Pacific  slope  of 
Panama  from  the  Rio  Chame  eastward  to  the  Rio  Tuyra,  ranging  from 
the  head  of  tide  to  the  upper  courses  of  the  streams. 

This  species  differs  slightly  from  the  preceding  in  several  respects. 
The  principal  differences  are  mentioned  in  the  key.  We  have  compared 
our  specimens  with  specimens  from  the  Pacific  slope  of  Costa  Rica  and 
of  Colombia  and  find  them  all  to  be  identical.  It  is  probable  that  all 
the  Pacific  slope  specimens  from  Mexico  to  Ecuador  belong  to  this  species. 

Habitat:  West  slope  rivers  from  Mexico  south  to  Western  Ecuador. 

57.  Genus  Sicydium  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes. 

Sicydium  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XII,  1837,  167 

(type  Gobius  plumieri  Bloch). 
Cotylopus  Guichenot,  in  Maillard,  Notes  sur  Flsle  de  la  Reunion,  II, 

1864,  Addendum  9  (type  Cotylopus  acutipinnis  Guichenot). 
Sicya  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Report  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1896,  456  (type 

Sicydium  gymnogaster  Grant). 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed; 
head  low,  broad;  eyes  lateral,  placed  high;  snout  very  blunt;  mouth 
horizontal;  upper  jaw  in  advance  of  the  lower;  the  lips  thick;  teeth  in 
upper  jaw  in  a  single  series,  numerous,  slender,  curved  inward,  tri- 
cuspid,  bicuspid,  or  simple;  lower  jaw  with  2  series,  the  outer  series 
nearly  horizontal  and  partly  or  completely  hidden  in  the  gums,  the 
second  series  pointed  and  nearly  vertical,  none  on  vomer;  gill-opening 
vertical,  not  extended  forward;  body  nearly  or  entirely  covered  with 
small  ctenoid  scales;  dorsal  fins  2,  well  separated;  caudal  fin  rounded; 
ventral  fins  united,  more  or  less  attached  to  abdomen,  forming  a  sucking 
disc.  But  one  species  of  this  genus  was  taken  by  us.  5.  pittieri 
Regan,  recorded  from  Panama,  was  not  seen. 

94.  Sicydium  salvini  Grant. 

Sicydium  salvini  Grant,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1884,  159,  PI.  XII, 
fig.  2  (Panama) ;  Regan,  Biol.  Cent.  Amer.,  Pisces,  1905, 10  (Panama; 
Western  Ecuador). 

Sicyopterus  salvini  Jordan  &  Eigenmann,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  IX, 
1886,  485. 

Cotylopus  salvini  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XLVII, 

1898,  2208. 

Oreogobius  rosenbergii  Boulenger,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  7,  IV, 

1899,  126  (Western  Ecuador). 


370    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Head  4.17  to  4.85;  depth  4.85  to  5.75;  D.  VI-I,  10;  A.  I,  10;  scales 
70  to  86. 

Body  elongate,  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  compressed; 
head  short,  quadrate,  as  wide  as  deep;  snout  very  short  and  blunt, 
anterior  profile  nearly  vertical,  its  length  2.2  to  2.96  in  head;  eye  small, 
lateral,  placed  high,  4.7  to  5.75;  interorbital  3  to  4.3;  mouth  large,  hori- 
zontal, inferior;  the  upper  jaw  notably  in  advance  of  the  lower,  the  lip 
thickened;  maxillary  reaching  to  or  past  posterior  margin  of  eye,  1.7  to 
2.2  in  head;  teeth  in  upper  jaw  in  a  single  series,  very  slender,  recurved, 
somewhat  compressed  and  grooved  at  apices,  tricuspid  in  young,  with 
nearly  smooth  cutting  edge  in  adult;  lower  jaw  with  2  series  of  teeth, 
the  outer  series  nearly  horizontal,  directed  forward,  more  or  less  exposed 
in  young,  but  completely  hidden  in  the  gums  in  adult;  second  series 
composed  of  comparatively  few,  rather  strong,  vertical  or  slightly  re- 
curved, pointed  teeth;  gill-openings  vertical,  not  extending  forward; 
scales  small  mostly  ctenoid,  extending  forward  nearly  to  interorbital 
region;  abdomen  completely  covered  with  scales;  those  on  predorsal 
region  and  abdomen  very  small  and  partly  embedded;  origin  of  first 
dorsal  about  midway  between  posterior  margin  of  eye  and  origin  of 
second  dorsal,  the  spines  produced  in  adult  males,  sometimes  reaching 
past  middle  of  base  of  second  dorsal;  origin  of  second  dorsal  midway 
between  posterior  margin  of  eye  and  base  of  caudal  or  slightly  nearer  the 
latter,  notably  higher  in  adult  males  than  in  females;  caudal  fin  scaly  at 
base,  the  margin  rounded;  anal  fin  similar  to  second  dorsal,  but  scarcely 
as  high;  ventral  fins  forming  almost  a  perfect  circular  disc;  pectoral 
fins  broad  at  base,  rounded,  1.05  to  1.4  in  head. 

Color  dark  green.  Young  with  a  dark  lateral  band,  which  later 
breaks  up  into  more  or  less  confluent  spots;  sides  also  with  dark  cross- 
bars, which  are  very  indistinct  in  our  largest  specimens;  back  in  young 
with  dark  reticulations;  scales  usually  with  roundish  spots  which  are 
largest  and  most  distinct  on  caudal  peduncle.  Dorsal  fins  spotted  or 
not;  anal  fin  with  a  dark  stripe  near  its  margin. 

We  have  8  specimens  of  this  species,  ranging  from  55  to  100  mm.  in 
length.  One  of  these  was  taken  at  Paraiso,  on  the  Pacific  slope,  in  a 
small  tributary  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  others  are  from  various  places 
in  the  Chagres  Basin.  We  are  unable  to  separate  the  Pacific  slope 
specimen  from  those  of  the  Rio  Chagres.  Our  specimens  were  all  taken 
in  upland  streams  where  the  species  inhabits  the  rocky  rapids.  By 
means  of  its  ventral  sucking  disc,  it  is  able  to  cling  closely  to  the  rocks 
and  is  extremely  difficult  to  capture.  It  is  therefore  quite  certainly  not 
as  rare  as  the  small  number  captures  would  indicate. 

Habitat:  Both  slopes  of  Panama  and  Western  Ecuador. 


GLOSSARY  OF  TECHNICAL  TERMS. 

Abdomen.     The  belly;  the  cavity  containing  the  digestive  and  repro- 
ductive organs. 
Adipose  fin.    A  peculiar,  fleshy  fin  without  rays  but  occasionally  with  a 

spine,  occurring  on  the  back  behind  the  dorsal  fin  of  most  cat  fishes, 

characins,  etc. 
Air-bladder.    A  sac  filled  with  air,  lying  beneath  the  backbone  and  in 

or  behind  the  abdominal  cavity;  also  known  as  swim-bladder. 
Anal.     Pertaining  to  the  anus  or  vent. 
Anal  fin.     The  fin  on  the  median  line  behind  the  vent. 
Antrorse.     Turned  forward. 

Anus.     The  external  opening  of  the  intestine;  the  vent. 
Articulate.    Jointed;  said  of  soft  fin  rays. 
Azygous.     Occurring  singly;  not  paired. 
Barbels.    An  elongate  fleshy  projection,  usually  about  the  head;  also 

called  whiskers,  present  in  most  cat  fishes. 
Bicuspid.     Having  two  points. 
Branchiae.     The  gills. 
Branchiostegals.     Slender  bones  forming  the  support  for  the  branchi- 

ostegal  membranes  lying  under  the  head  and  below  the  opercular 

bones. 

Canines.     Long  conical  teeth. 

Carinate.     Keeled;  having  a  single  ridge  along  median  line. 
Caudal.     Pertaining  to  the  tail. 
Caudal  fin.     The  fin  on  the  tail. 

Caudal  peduncle.     The  region  between  the  anal  and  caudal  fins. 
Cirri.     Fringes. 
Ccecum.    An  appendage  of  the  form  of  a  blind  sac  connected  with  the 

posterior  end  of  the  stomach,  or  pylorus. 
Compressed.     Flattened  from  side  to  side. 
Ctenoid.     Rough-edged;  said  of  scales  when  the  posterior  margin  is 

spinous  or  pectinate. 
Cycloid.     Smooth-edged;  said  of  scales  when  the  posterior  margin  is 

not  rough;  scales  showing  concentric  lines  or  striations. 
Deciduous.     Falling  away  or  out. 
Decurved.     Curved  downward. 

Dentary.     The  principal  or  anterior  bone  of  the  lower  jaw  or  mandible. 
Depressed.     Flattened  vertically. 


372    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Distal.     Remote  from  the  point  of  attachment. 

Dorsal.     Pertaining  to  the  back. 

Dorsal  fin.     The  fin  on  the  median  line  of  back. 

Emarginate.     Slightly  notched  at  the  end. 

Falcate.     Scythe-shaped;  long,  narrow  and  curved. 

Fauna.     The  animals  inhabiting  any  one  region,  taken  collectively. 

Filament.    Any  slender  or  thread-like  structure. 

Filiform.     Thread  form. 

Fontanel.    An  opening  between  the  bones  of  the  skull. 

Foramen.    A  hole  or  opening. 

Frontal  bone.    Anterior  bone  on  top  of  head,  usually  paired. 

Fusiform.     Spindle  shaped;  tapering  toward  both  ends. 

Gape.     Opening  of  the  mouth. 

Gill-arches.    The  bony  arches  to  which  the  gills  are  attached. 

Gill-openings.     Openings  reaching  to  or  from  the  gills. 

Gill-rakers.    A  series  of  bony  projections  placed  along  the  inner  edge 

of  the  gill  arch. 

Gills.     Organs  for  breathing  the  air  contained  in  water. 
Haemal  spine.     The  lowermost  projection  of  a  caudal  vertebra. 
Incisors.     Cutting  teeth,  usually  in  front  of  jaws. 
Interorbital.    Space  between  the  orbits  or  eyes. 
Isthmus.     The  region  between  the  lower  part  of  the  gill-openings. 
Keeled.     Having  a  ridge  along  the  median  line. 
Lamellae.    A  thin  plate,  layer  or  process. 
Larva.    The  immature  form. 
Lateral.    Referring  to  the  side. 
Lateral  line.    A  series  of  mucus  pores  along  the  side  of  the  fish  and 

containing  sense  organs. 
Mandible.    The  lower  jaw. 
Marbled.     Variegated;  clouded. 
Maxillaries.    The  outermost  bones  of  the  upper  jaw,  joined  to  the  pre- 

maxillaries  in  front,  and  usually  extending  farther  back  than^the 

latter. 

Nape.    The  back  of  the  neck. 
Nares.     Nostrils. 

Nasal.     Pertaining  to  the  nostrils. 
Nuchal.     Referring  to  the  nape. 
Obsolete.     Poorly  developed;  scarcely  evident. 
Obtuse.     Blunt. 

Occipital.     Relating  to  the  occiput. 
Occiput.    The  back  of  the  head. 
Ocellated.     Having  an  ocellus  or  ocelli. 


DEC.  28,  1916.    FISHES  OF  PANAMA  —  MEEK  AND  HILDEBRAND.    373 

Ocellus.    An  eye-like  spot;  a  dark  spot  with  a  lighter  border. 
Opercle.     The  thin  flat  bone  on  sides  of  head  covering  the  gills;  also 

called  gill-covers. 
Orbit.     Eye  socket. 
Osseous.     Bony. 
Oviparous.    Reproducing  by  means  of  eggs  laid  and  hatched  outside 

of  the  body. 

Ovum  (plural  ovi).     Egg. 
Palate.    The  roof  of  the  mouth. 
Palatines.    Bones  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  one  on  each  side  of  the 

vomer,  often  provided  with  teeth. 
Papilla.    A  small  fleshy  projection. 
Papillose.     Covered  with  papillae. 
Parietal.     Bone  of  the  side  of  the  head. 
Pectinate.     Having  teeth  like  a  comb. 
Pectoral.     Pertaining  to  the  breast. 
Pectoral  fins.     The  anterior  or  uppermost  paired  fins,  corresponding  to 

the  anterior  limbs  of  the  higher  vertebrates. 
Peritoneum.     The  membrane  lining  the  abdominal  cavity. 
Pharyngeal  bones.     Bones  behind  the  gills  and  at  the  beginning  of  the 

oesophagus,  usually  provided  with  teeth. 
Plicate.     Folded;  showing  folds  or  wrinkles. 
Plumbeous.     Lead  colored;  dull  bluish  gray. 
Postorbital.    Behind  the  eye. 
Premaxillaries.     The  bones,  one  on  each  side,  forming  the  front  of  the 

upper  jaw,  usually  bearing  most  of  the  upper  teeth. 
Preopercle.    A  thin  bone  lying  just  in  front  of  the  opercle. 
Preorbital.     The  bone  lying  just  in  front  of  the  eyes. 
Protractile.     Capable  of  being  drawn  forward. 

Pseudobranchiee.     Small  gills  developed  on  the  inner  side  of  the  opercle. 
Punctate.     Dotted  with  fine  points. 
Ray.     One  of  the  bony  or  cartilaginous  supports  of  a  fin.     Rays  are 

either  spiny  or  soft,  the  latter  are  either  simple  or  branched. 
Recurved.     Turned  backward  or  toward  the  point  of  origin. 
Reticulate.     Marked  with  a  net  work  of  lines. 
Retrorse.     Turned  backward. 
Rudimentary.     Undeveloped. 
Rugose.     Rough,  wrinkled. 
Scute.    An  external  horny  or  bony  plate. 
Serrate.     Notched  like  the  edge  of  a  saw. 
Setiform.     Having  the  form  of  a  bristle. 
Snout.     That  portion  of  the  head  which  projects  beyond  the  eyes. 


374     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Spinous.     Stiff  or  composed  of  spines. 

Striate.     Striped  or  streaked. 

Suborbital.     The  bone  immediately  below  the  eye. 

Supraoccipital.     The  bone  at  posterior  part  of  skull. 

Suture.     The  line  of  union  of  two  bones,  as  in  the  skull. 

Symphasis.     The  tip  of  chin;  point  of  juncture  of  the  two  bones  of  lower 

jaw. 
Synonym.    A  different  word  having  the  same  meaning;  a  technical 

name  given  to  a  fish  already  described  is  said  to  be  a  synonym. 
Synonymy.    A  list  of  technical  names  applied  to  a  certain  genus  or 

species. 

Tail.     In  ichthyology  the  part  posterior  to  the  anal  fin. 
Temporal.     Referring  to  the  region  of  the  temples. 
Terete.     Cylindrical  or  tapering. 
Thoracic.     Pertaining  to  the  thorax;  said  of  the  ventral  fins  when 

attached  beneath  the  pectorals. 
Trenchent.     Compressed  to  a  sharp  edge. 
Truncate.    With  a  square  or  straight  margin. 
Tubercle.    A  small  projection,  like  a  pimple. 
Type.     The  particular  specimen  upon  which  the  original  description  of 

the  species  was  based  or  the  species  upon  which  was  based  the  genus 

to  which  it  belongs. 
Type  locality.     The  particular  place  or  locality  at  which  the  type  was 

collected. 

Vent.     The  posterior  opening  of  the  alimentary  canal. 
Ventral.     Relating  to  the  abdomen. 
Ventral  fins.     The  paired  fins  behind,  in  front  of  or  below  the  pectoral 

fins,  corresponding  to  the  hind  limbs  in  the  higher  vertebrates. 
Ventral  plates.     The  plates  lying  on  the  belly. 
Vertical  fins.     The  fins  on  the  median  line  of  the  body;  the  dorsal, 

caudal  and  anal  fins. 
Villiform.     Slender,  minute  teeth  crowded  into  compact  patches  or 

bands. 

Viviparous.     Bringing  forth  living  young. 
Vomer.    A  bone  in  the  center  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  just  behind  the 

premaxillaries,  often  bearing  teeth. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


